BEL AIR, Md. — A fire chief blames a “generational divide” for comments made on Facebook by firefighters complaining they didn’t receive a restaurant discount.
Three members of the Bel Air Fire Department were suspended and one was demoted following the comments earlier this month.
Up to 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.”
Chief Eddie Hopkins told the Baltimore Sun last week the company is split down the middle on the issue in the wake of the disciplinary measures, with older members thinking the comments should not have been made and the younger ones feeling it was less serious.
“Firefighters are one of the few professions where when people call you, they trust you implicitly,” he told the newspaper. “A fire service cannot afford for a story of this magnitude to really grow legs.
“I believed in my heart there was no mal-intent, but that doesn’t make a difference. What I believe and what the public believes are two different things.”
After the initial post was made on Facebook about the restaurant, 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.
Chief Hopkins told the Baltimore Sun that the younger generation also has to acknowledge the fire service’s history and tradition.
“The new generation has to recognize that tradition got us to where we are today and they have to respect that,” he said.
The newspaper went on to report some of the firefighters plan to appeal the disciplinary action.