More Bad Tweets for FDNY

Posted by: Curt Varone March 25, 2013 4 Comments

For the second time in a week, the FDNY EMS is in the news over racist Tweets.

EMS Lieutenant Timothy Dluhos, whose Twitter name is Bad Lieutenant, was confronted about his posts by NY Post reporters outside his Staten Island home. The posts included references to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is Jewish, as “King Heeb”,  black people as “coloreds”, and Asians as “chinks”. To add to the problem his profile picture was Adolf Hitler.

Lt. Dluhos reportedly broke down during the confrontation with reporters, reduced to tears saying “My life is ruined. Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.”

Last week FDNY EMT Joseph Cassano agreed to resign after revelation of his racist and sexist remarks set off a firestorm of controversy. Cassano is the son of FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano, prompting minority groups to question whether racism goes all the way to the top.

Lt. Dluhos has been suspended from FDNY for 30 days while the matter is investigated. More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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