cyber-casualty

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.

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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.

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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.

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A Massachusetts judge has rejected the appeal of a Boston firefighter who was terminated over a series a racist and homophobic social media posts. Octavius Rowe, a 15-year veteran, was fired by the Boston Fire Department on April 30, 2018 following a lengthy investigation.

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A Texas fire chief has been terminated following his arrest on child pornography charges. Port Neches Fire Chief Paul Nelson was arrested last week on a single count of promoting child pornography. Port Neches Police Chief Paul LeMoine was quoted as saying:

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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.

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The family of a woman killed in the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash last January, has filed suit against Los Angeles County accusing deputy sheriffs and firefighters of taking photos of victims’ remains and disseminating those images to others unrelated to any investigation.

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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.

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A Los Angeles County Fire Captain who was transferred from his position as a PIO in the aftermath of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash because he would not turn over his personal cellphone, has filed suit claiming his rights under the California Firefighter Procedural Bill of Rights were violated. Captain Tony Imbrenda filed suit yesterday in LA County Superior.

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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.

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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.”

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A Delaware firefighter who was expelled from his fire company in July over a social media meme, is now facing criminal hate crime charges. Michael D. Cook, 55, a member of the Cranston Heights Fire Company, has been charged with two counts of committing a hate crime, and three counts of harassment

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A Yonkers firefighter who was suspended for thirty-five days without pay for posting a racial slur in social media has filed suit in federal court contending his punishment was retaliation for an earlier complaint he filed against an officer who used a racial slur in his presence.

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An Arkansas firefighter who was terminated last week over a racist Facebook post, has spoken publicly to the news media about his punishment. Bryant firefighter Kyle Robertson spoke with FOX16 this week contending that people “misinterpreted” his post about Black Lives Matter.

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