Social Media

A New York man who was transported to the hospital on Thanksgiving Day, 2019, has filed suit against FDNY and an EMT alleging that the EMT posted his confidential medical information on Facebook. Jermaine Williams is suing FDNY and EMT Diane Wagerik in New York Supreme Court.

Read More »

An Akron fire lieutenant who sprayed water at a local activist who was filming at a crime scene, has been suspended for 80 hours. The incident occurred on March 27, 2021 as firefighters were washing down a sidewalk where a fatal stabbing occurred.

Read More »

A Glastonbury firefighter is facing criticism for an off-hand comment that he made to a BLM activist Sunday. The activist, Ivelisse Correa, videoed the exchange she had with the firefighter.

Read More »

A Lynchburg fire captain has filed suit against the fire department, the city, and three city officials claiming breach of contract and a violation of his First Amendment rights. Martin Misjuns filed suit last week in the Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg. Named in the suit are Mayor Mary Jane Tousignant Dolan, Vice-Mayor Beau Wright, and City Manager Reid Wodicka.

Read More »

A Connecticut firefighter has been charged with violating a state law that makes it a crime for first responders to take photos of victims at emergency scenes. Steven Frischling, 45, the public information officer for the Chesterfield Fire Company, was arrested Tuesday.

Read More »

The former president of Fulton Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2945 has been charged with stealing between $22,000 and $30,000 from the union. Scott Peterson, 47, was charged today with felony stealing.

Read More »

The sister of a man who was shot and killed during Black Lives Matter protests in Cicero, Illinois last summer, has filed suit against two Cicero Fire Department paramedics and a retired lieutenant for taking and sharing photos of his body. Adriana Cazares filed suit today naming Frank R. Rand, Justin Zheng, Gene Lazcano and the Town of Cicero as defendants.

Read More »

A Nashville fire captain who was demoted last August over social media posts, has filed suit claiming thes posts were protected by the First Amendment. Captain Tracy Turner filed suit in US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee alleging a single count of a First Amendment violation

Read More »

A Florida fire captain has been placed on administrative leave without pay following his arrest on charges of soliciting a minor. William Scott Johnson, 58, a captain with the Ormond Beach Fire Department, was arrested with agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Read More »

A San Antonio firefighter has been suspended for 90 days over a social media post last August that stated “F…. the police”. Christopher Johnson was suspended in October, but the matter was brought to public light today by KSAT Channel 12.

Read More »

A lawsuit challenging the validity of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s social media policy, together with the discipline imposed on two captains, has been dismissed for the second time. Captain AJ O’Laughlin and Captain Crystal Little filed suit in state court last year claiming their social media-related discipline should be overturned, and that the social media policy violated the First Amendment.

Read More »

The State of California has become the latest state to enact a law making it a criminal offense for a first responder to take certain photos at emergency scenes. Introduced in the California Legislature under the title of “Invasion of privacy: first responders”, the legislation was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 28, 2020.

Read More »

The Aurora Fire Department is investigating allegations that a social media post by a ranking officer was inappropriate and racially offensive. The post reportedly depicted a man in military attire and stated ““This is what a HERO looks like…unlike the whiny pathetic professional athletes that think they are special.”

Read More »

The US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the termination of a Nashville dispatcher for the use of a racial slur in a Facebook post on election night, 2016. Danyelle Bennett was fired the Metropolitan Government of Nashville over the post she made while off duty.

Read More »