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Cleveland fire chief under internal review for Charlie Kirk post

The Cleveland mayor’s office is reviewing the chief’s Charlie Kirk post while the city is probing EMS and firefighter posts

CLEVELAND — Cleveland’s fire chief, Anthony P. Luke, is under internal review following a social media post about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

On Sept. 14, Luke reposted a cartoon video showing a machine gun on a pedestal before a group of kneeling elephants, with one saying, “Bring out the next sacrifice,” while a Charlie Kirk quote scrolled across the top, WOIO reported.

| HOT TOPIC: Firefighters face investigations over social posts about Charlie Kirk’s killing

The city released a statement to WOIO on Sept. 15:

“We are aware of the social media post made by the Fire Chief. The Mayor’s Office takes this matter seriously and is reviewing it. The views expressed in the post do not reflect the values of the City of Cleveland. We will provide an update as appropriate.”
Sarah Johnson, chief communications officer for the city of Cleveland.

As of Sept. 16, it appears Luke has removed the post.

WJW reported that city officials are also reviewing similar posts by two other employees, an EMS worker and a firefighter. It is not known how long the reviews will take.

| MORE: From jokes to threats: Identifying conduct that erodes trust in the fire service

What role do personal social media posts from public officials play in shaping public perception of their department?



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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.