WPRI.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — An on-duty Providence firefighter has been told he’ll be punished for apparently showing his approval of a flag burning protest in front of the Public Safety Complex, Target 12 has learned.
Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare would not detail the punishment leveled at the firefighter. “He has the right to a hearing,” Pare said. “If he accepts the proposed discipline, there is no hearing.” The commissioner would not say whether or not the firefighter has decided to fight the punishment or get into specifics about the investigation.
“He violated department rules and regulations,” Pare said. A video recorded last Tuesday night shows the on-duty firefighter raising his fist in the air while he watched the flag-burning from a window above the garages that house the central station’s firefighting apparatus. The crowd of about 150 people cheered after noticing the gesture.
Full story: Firefighter faces discipline for gesture during flag burning