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Confederate flag license plate sparks controversy at fire department

Firefighter Idris Debruhl claimed the department did nothing when he complained about the license plate

By FireRescue1 Staff

BETHESDA, Md. — Firefighters are in court after an argument broke out over a colleague’s Confederate flag license plate.

NBC Washington reported that 10-year veteran firefighter Idris Debruhl complained about racism when he saw a fellow firefighter had the flag attached to the front of his truck. Other colleagues claim Debruhl threatened them.

Court documents said supervisors did nothing about it when Debruhl said something about the flag.

“I felt like this would be allowed and swept under the rug like so many other racial comments and symbols have been in the past,” Debruhl said in a statement.

Debruhl said he called the owner of the truck, firefighter Charles Lee, “a racist and a coward.”

“We can take this outside,” Lee allegedly said, according to Debruhl.

“I got more guns than all of you,” colleagues claimed Debruhl said. “I’ll end this now!”

Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said the department is investigating the incident.