Department veteran wrote on group's Facebook page
Nashville Fire Department officials suspended a 20-year department
veteran Friday after he made anti-gay comments on a social media site,
an incident gay rights advocates say proves that the group needs legal
protections.
Fire Chief Steve Halford ordered the two-month suspension after a
departmental hearing last week for paramedic Kevin Kennedy. Kennedy
was accused of posting on his own Facebook page and the Nashville Fire
Department Emergency Medical Services’ page that homosexuality was a
perversion. He also said two gay EMS workers should “crawl back into
the closet,” said Deputy Chief Kim Lawson, spokeswoman for the
department.
The department was notified of the posts on Aug. 3.
“We have a diverse group of employees in the fire department who
respond to the needs of a diverse community,” Lawson said. “This
disrupts the order of discipline. We have an important job. These
actions in no way are tolerated.”
Kennedy, who lives in Shelbyville, had no prior disciplinary record
and earned “acceptable” performance evaluations over his career with
the department, said Robin Brown, Metro Human Resources spokeswoman.
He will be required to pay for and show proof of his participation in
an anger management program and diversity training before he returns
to work, Lawson said. Before the suspension, Kennedy was charged with
five counts of misconduct, including participation in a pattern of
harassment toward a Metro employee and using threat of violence or
intimidation toward others, according to his charge sheet.
Punishment applauded
Deputy Chief Steve Meador, head of the paramedics/EMS bureau, reported
Kennedy’s Facebook comments when they were posted on the private group
page, “NFD/EMS.” It’s unclear how his comments showed up on both
pages, but Kennedy was a member of the Facebook group, which was
primarily used as a message board for training and policy questions
for EMS, Lawson said. By posting on a department-sponsored page and
using a profile picture dressed in his NFD uniform, Kennedy
disregarded departmental policy on social media.
“We have not faced this issue before, but as social media expands, it
is a concern,” Lawson said. “ In no way did we want people to think
the department was associated with anti-gay comments.”
Chris Sanders, Tennessee Equality Project Nashville committee
chairman, said Kennedy’s punishment is just, and he applauds the fire
department’s response. The incident highlights the need for
legislation such as the 2009 ordinance that protects Metro employees
from sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination, and the
similar bill, nullified by the General Assembly this year, that would
have protected employees of Metro contractors, he said.
“The Nashville Fire Department through its actions has made a clear
statement that it will not tolerate discrimination or a hostile work
environment,” Sanders said.
The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 140 fire union
members represented Kennedy during the departmental hearing and would
be willing to represent him if he chooses to appeal, said fire union
president Mark Young. Kennedy has not decided to appeal, and he did
offer an apology to his colleagues during last week’s hearing.
“He regrets the decision he made. He is a superior paramedic and went
above and beyond in giving medical care to all,” Young said. “Does the
punishment fit the crime? Well, that’s a matter of opinion.”
Kennedy isn’t speaking to the media, Young said.
More:
http://www.tennessean.com/
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