Florida Lieutenant Alleges Her Termination Was Gender and Age Discrimination

A Florida fire lieutenant who was fired last year has filed suit in federal court alleging gender and age discrimination. Lieutenant Susanne Severson was fired by the Ponce Inlet Fire Department after two firearm-related incidents were brought to the attention of the department’s leadership.

Lt. Severson, 49, was a police officer prior to joining the Ponce Inlet Fire Department in 2004. She cooperated with the investigation into the incidents and was the only one fired despite the involvement of several younger male firefighters. The incidents as explained in the complaint are as follows:

• Sometime in February or March of 2022 some photographs from late 2009, published to various social media accounts in early 2010, were made available to the Town which showed Ms. Severson along with Mike Young, Lieutenant Derek George and non-Fire Department employee Jeff Miller holding rifles on Town property.
• By the time these photographs became available, Derek George had already been terminated.
• At the time the photographs were taken Derek George was a lieutenant and Ms. Severson was his subordinate.
• In 2010 the photographs were published to social media including to Mr. Miller’s Facebook.
• During this time, it came to light that Fire fighter Raymond Reneker had sold a gun to Ms. Severson five years prior (2017) while she was a lieutenant.
• The Town opened an internal affairs investigation against Mr. Young, and Mr. Miller for the conduct depicted in the photograph, against Ms. Severson for the conduct depicted in the photograph and for the purchase of the gun from Mr. Reneker, and against Mr. Reneker for the sale of the gun to Ms. Severson.
• Ms. Severson, the only female in the group, and one of the oldest among the Fire fighters was the only one to get fired.
• While Ms. Severson received the strongest penalty (termination) Mr. Young and Mr. Miller were given a 5-day suspension for the very same conduct.
• Mr. Reneker who had over 5 years of experience in the fire department and is around 10 years younger than Ms. Severson, had a DUI arrest record, and previously battered Port Orange Fire Department transport crew, only received a written reprimand and was later promoted.
• The Town has a progressive discipline policy which it followed with the male employees but not with Ms. Severson.

The suit alleges a gender-based violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (both federal claims) and gender discrimination and age discrimination under Florida state law. She is seeking reinstatement, damages and attorney’s fees.

Here is a copy of the complaint.

September 30, 2024 – UPDATE:

Ponce Inlet paramedic was investigated, accused of killing his patients – Florida Politics