The dismissals Wednesday come after the firing of a Columbia Fire Department captain for posting on Facebook he would run over protesters if they were still blocking traffic when his shift ended.
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Proctor was a senior firefighter who’d been with the department for almost three years, while Augustyn was a probationary firefighter who was hired last February.
It’s not clear what those comments were, since they have been deleted.
“As a result of this investigation two additional employees with the Columbia Fire Department have been terminated for conduct unbecoming of a City of Columbia employee”, Jenkins said in an emailed statement.
“Idiots shutting down I-126”, Morris wrote on his Facebook page. “Better not be there when I get off work or there is gonna be some run over dumb asses”.
The Eau Claire fire station closed about 1 a.m. Monday after someone circulated its address on social media following Sunday’s protest, Jenkins said. The North Main Street Fire Station is located in an area heavily populated by minorities, making the threatening social media posts especially inappropriate.
“Civility, respect and professionalism are characteristics that are not only expected, but required of everyone who represents the City of Columbia”, Wilson said. It did not elaborate on the content of those comments or when they were posted. We expect more from our public officials.
The name of the Savannah first responder was not released. On Monday, a MI police detective was demoted after calling Black Lives Matter protesters “terrorists” on Facebook.
Police officers in Memphis have been suspended over a Snapchat post showing someone pointing a gun down a hallway at a cartoon of a black man running; according to the Bradenton (Tenn.) Herald, the image was posted the night the Dallas officers were killed.
Jenkins said the posts, which were authored and posted while the captain was on duty, prompted numerous phone calls, texts, emails and even threats to his firefighters. He also called for unity, especially in hard times. But he remained critical of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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“We are honored and proud to live and participate in the communities we serve”, said Jenkins.
