NY Firefighter Suspended Over Facebook Post

March 4, 2017
A veteran Yonkers firefighter was suspended over a racist Facebook post.

A Yonkers firefighter was suspended over a Facebook post he made.

Richard LaPeruta, a 22-year veteran of the department, posted about the department's hiring policy.

In the post obtained News12, LaPeruta wrote "First and Second on the New YFD Test" and posted a photo of an black man and a gorilla. 

"I'm outraged. This individual has discredited and disrespected our wonderfully diverse city and our firefighters. He should be ashamed of himself," Mayor Mike Spano said.

Union fire officials would not comment, calling it a personnel issue. 

LaPeruta was suspended without pay.

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