BOURNE, Mass. --
A veteran firefighter is out of a job after past Facebook postings were deemed in violation of fire department rules.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Bourne Town Administrator Thomas Guerino released a ruling that 16-year veteran firefighter Richard Doherty had "disqualified himself" from his job because his postings "cause the public to question whether he can serve all of its citizens," the Cape Cod Times reported.
Guerino wrote that Doherty posted messages "that ridicule and disparage" superiors in the fire department and others in town, including members of the police department, the paper reported.
In firing Doherty, Guerino referenced "a series of repeated violations," including an incident in which Doherty reportedly used a homosexual slur, and another in which he wrote of his anger at having to work on July 4, 2010, the paper reported.
Bourne firefighters' union president Gilbert Taylor said the union would support Doherty, a former union vice president, if he chooses to appeal the termination or file a lawsuit.
Neither Guerino or Doherty would comment on the ruling when asked by the Cape Cod Times.
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