PA Firefighter Suspended for Racist Facebook Post
By Chuck Biedka
Source The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.
June 27 -- A Freeport volunteer firefighter has been suspended for allegedly making racist comments on his Facebook page.
Christopher James Negley's comments came to the attention of the department on Thursday night. The department announced his suspension via the department's Facebook page on Saturday.
On Friday, department officials posted, “The views expressed in a member's private post earlier today do not represent the views of the department, or it's members. A full detailed investigation is being conducted at this time.“
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Negley's Facebook post used a racial slur to refer to many of the people protesting Antwon Rose's death. Rose, 17, was shot to death last week by an East Pittsburgh police officer after Rose ran from police. He was unarmed, officials said.
Since then there have been almost daily demonstrations protesting the shooting and calling for criminal charges against the police officer who shot Rose. At the request of Rose's family, there were no protests Monday, the day of Rose's funeral.
“The trustees and officers of Freeport VFD after deliberating have suspended Christopher Negley indefinitely until the investigation can be completed. We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter,” the department commented to the public.
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Fire officials also talked with the public at the borough council meeting on Monday.
Fire Chief Steve Warheit said the matter unfortunately involved the department in a personal matter for Negley.
“We are indirectly involved,” he said. “And, by no means do we condone” what Negley is accused of writing, Warheit said Tuesday.Negley was a member of the department for about two years. He had been a member previously and moved.He is part of a growing list of firefighters in hot water over alleged racist Facebook posts since Rose's death.
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The Mt. Pleasant Borough Volunteer Fire Department said it will decide on July 19 whether to suspend one of its members, Brian Vought, over his social media comments threatening to harm those blocking the Homestead Grays Bridge during one of the protests.
Also, a Norvelt fire captain has been suspended for making an “inappropriate and disrespectful” Facebook comment about the Antwon Rose protests, officials said. The captain, Martin Linden, called the controversy over his Facebook post “a big misunderstanding.”
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