Tag Archives: Fire Chief Norman Sylvester

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a Massachusetts fire chief did not discriminate against a firefighter by requiring him to pose in his Class A uniform for an identification photo. Thomas Swartz filed suit claiming he was wrongfully disciplined by the Bourne Fire Department in 2016, in violation of his religious rights.

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A lawsuit brought by a Massachusetts firefighter unhappy with the fire chief for requiring his photo to be taken, has been dismissed. Thomas Swartz, a now-retired firefighter-paramedic with the Borne Fire Department, claims Fire Chief Norman Sylvester ordered him to pose for a photo, and suspended him without pay when he refused.

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A Massachusetts firefighter who was disciplined for refusing to pose for a photograph on religious grounds, is suing his fire chief for violating his First Amendment rights. Thomas Swartz, a firefighter-paramedic for the Borne Fire Department, claims Fire Chief Norman Sylvester asked him to pose for a photo, and suspended him for one-day without pay when he refused

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