Fireman Suspended Over US Flag Decal ON LOCKER

[david86440]

(Oct. 17) -- A Pennsylvania firefighter who put an American flag sticker on the front of his locker has been suspended without pay for refusing to take the Old Glory decal down.
James Krapf, along with nearly a dozen other Chester, Pa. firefighters, were ordered to remove personal items from the outside of their lockers -- a violation of department policy, MyFoxPhilly.com reported.

Krapf refused to do so and the department suspended him Thursday. So far, he's the only one on forced leave.
"I shouldn't have to remove the flag of the country I believe in. I love my country," Krapf told the Fox affiliate.
The department directed firefighters to keep the outside of their lockers undecorated after some employees took offense to a racially-motivated cartoon posted last summer.
Department officials told The Philadelphia Inquirer that banning any decor from lockers was the only way to prevent fighting among employees.
"The directive says 'everything,' " Capt. John Barbato, vice president of the department's union, told the newspaper. "I never would've thought the American flag would be included in that."

[Big Frank]

It's a sad day when they compare our great country's flag to a racist cartoon. 

[MikeBjerum]

Yea, it seems that the policy is doing wonders to avoid fighting within the department at this point.

[TAB]

he was told to do something, didn't do it and got suspended becuase of it...

um, what the prob here? 

[MikeBjerum]

Rule put in place due to racial slur - he has our Flag on display (the same flag that is on his uniform and hanging in front of the station house) - Firefighter expressing himself under his First Amendment Rights - inappropriate interpretation of a rule concerning "decorations"

I think his union will have all the help they want from the ACLU in getting this guy back on duty with what ever he wants.

Another example of stupid rules being enforced by stupid people and being supported by ... 

[Sponsor]

[Woody]

First the Bible, now Old Glory. Disturbing trend. All nationalities to be dissolved into one. Change you can't believe in.

[Ichiban]

Yet another example of "zero tolerance" policy that does nothing but is in place simply to cover bureaucratic asses.

[TAB]

Yet another example of "zero tolerance" policy that does nothing but is in place simply to cover bureaucratic asses.

You missed why he was suspended, it was not for having the flag decal, it was for not fallowing orders. 

[Ichiban]

Yeah, I got that part.  The "orders" he was not "fallowing" was a "zero tolerance" policy that said nothing could be put on the locker.  Was the department within their rights for suspending him?  Yes, even if it was harsh or unevenly applied.  There is a lot missing from the story that may or may not have justified his suspension while the others were not suspended.  I was commenting that it was a policy designed to cover the bureaucrats asses.  Those types of policies are often shields that bad management hides behind when they make stupid decisions or non-decisions.

[fightingquaker13]

You missed why he was suspended, it was not for having the flag decal, it was for not fallowing orders.  

I really, really hate to say this, but legally speaking TAB is 100% right. You can have a policy saying people can post stuff on their lockers. You can have a policy saying they can't. What you cannot have is a policy saying that people may only post stuff we approve of. That simply will not fly.
FQ13