By FireRescue1 Staff
TULSA, Okla. — A former firefighter is suing the Tulsa Fire Department for wrongful termination following a social media post last year.
Greg Chapman, a 20-year veteran, wrote a derogatory comment on a viral video of a police officer in December 2015. He was called into meet with his chief, but since Chapman was on vacation at the time, he didn’t. His attorney told FOX23 that Chapman did not feel the incident was urgent enough for him to cancel his holiday plans.
Court documents revealed that Chapman returned to work following his time off, was punished for the comment and then fired for insubordination. Chapman’s attorney, Paul Gee, argued that the department did not follow policy when disciplining him, and failed to give Chapman a written warning.
Chapman is suing the department for $3 million in lost wages and benefits.
Officials met Wednesday to discuss the lawsuit and hire an attorney for Tulsa’s fire chief and others involved in the incident.