BEL AIR, Md. — Four Md. firefighters have been disciplined for posts made on another member’s Facebook page after he posted that he didn’t receive a discount at the local Sonic restaurant.
Three members were suspended, and one was demoted, Harford County Fire Chief Eddie Hopkins told the Baltimore Sun.
“It embarrasses me and upsets me terribly that something like this happens,” he said. “There are more than 1,500 firefighters and EMS personnel serving Harford County, and the overwhelming majority don’t engage in such asinine behavior or make comments like these.”
Chief Hopkins said eight members of the company were involved in the posts, some of which suggested the company not respond to any fire calls at the Bel Air Sonic.
The initial Facebook posting on May 30 read, “Even when myself and a full engine crew are in turnout gear at Sonic for lunch, the manager still says only police and military get discounts. Cool, thanks we appreciate the support.”
Comments such as “let’s make sure they don’t get a response,” “go set the Dumpster on fire” and “wait till its on fire, then see what he says” were posted by the other firefighters, the article said.
But other posts asked why firefighters should receive such discounts, e.g., “Why such a sense of entitlement?”
Chief Hopkins learned about the posts through a Monday e-mail sent to him and local media from a sender calling himself “Robert C.”
Chief Hopkins said more punishment is pending, including termination for some of the company members.