May 08--A gag photograph posted on the Internet cost two Glynn County firefighters their jobs.
Both were terminated by the Glynn County fire chief and county administrator.
The two are seen in the photograph pretending to administrator CPR to a dead deer in a county ambulance while on duty, county spokeswoman Candice Temple said.
The emergency medical technician and paramedic were fired shortly after the photo was brought to the attention of Glynn County fire captains and County Administrator Alan Ours, Temple said.
County officials said the men wrapped the deer in a sheet and put it in the back of the ambulance, something Temple said cannot be tolerated because of public health issues.
"We don't condone that behavior," Temple said. "Our No. 1 priority is public safety."
Temple said the combination of being on the clock and potentially contaminating the ambulance with diseases from a dead deer while publicly poking fun at the life-saving job they were hired to do was what prompted the decision by fire chief Al Thomas and county administrator Ours to terminate the men.
Officials became aware of the photo on April 28.
"Once one of our fire captains became aware of it, the photo was taken down," Temple said.
The ambulance, which was operating out of fire Station No. 6, 3320 U.S. 17, has been decontaminated and given a deep cleaning to ensure no potentially harmful diseases will be passed to humans, Temple said.
She said the swift reaction by county officials was necessary.
"I think Alan (Ours) sent the message this won't be tolerated," Temple said.
She added that officials expect both men to appeal their terminations.
-- Reporter Michael Hall writes about public safety, environment and other local topics. Contact him at [email protected], on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 320.
Copyright 2014 - The Brunswick News, Ga.
