Detroit Captain Reinstated by Arbitrator

A Detroit Fire Department captain who was terminated last summer after a series of racist posts, has been reinstated by an arbitrator.

Captain Tim Goodman was suspended and later terminated over Facebook posts that were characterized as “xenophobic and racist” by the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Michigan. It was reported that over 100 posts were identified as offensive. Nevertheless, he was ordered reinstated by an arbitrator.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 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. Besides his law degree, he has a MS in Forensic Psychology. 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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