A national firefighter's union is trying to persuade the city of Rock Hill to change its nepotism policy because a city firefighter will be fired if he marries a fire captain's daughter next week.
Matt Cooper, who has been with the department for two years, is engaged to marry Brooke Lowery, daughter of Capt. Herbie Lowery. Rock Hill city policy forbids in-laws and other immediate family members from working in the same department.
The International Association of Fire Fighters, a national union, said in a media advisory Wednesday that the S.C. chapter will hold a news conference today.
"Throughout history there have always been husbands, fathers, sons and uncles that have been in the fire service," said Mike Parrotta, president of the S.C. Professional Firefighters and EMS Providers. "Matt's trying to make a life for himself. ... The city of Rock Hill needs to seriously look at their policy and do away with something that is from the era of cavemen."
Cooper and the Lowerys could not be reached Wednesday.
Rock Hill's ban, which extends to uncles, cousins and people who live together and are engaged in a romantic relationships, is one of the strictest in the Charlotte region. Rock Hill Human Resources Director Phyllis Fauntleroy said this is the first time in her 24 years that an employee has tried to persuade the city to change the policy. Most people, she said, switch departments or leave willingly.
Fire departments in Charlotte, Kannapolis, Gastonia, Hickory and Statesville all allow family members to work in the same department. But the departments forbid family members from supervising each other. Charlotte puts relatives on different shifts or different stations.
Rock Hill officials said they don't intend to change the citywide policy, which they say promotes diversity and prevents conflicts of interest. In the case of firefighters, city officials said the policy helps prevent situations where a supervisor might be reluctant to send his own family member into a dangerous situation.
"With all of us living together, it's tough as it is to make that call," Chief Mike Blackmon said. "How would you say to a (firefighter), 'No, it's too dangerous to go in and get your son'?"
Blackmon and Fauntleroy said they, along with other city and fire officials, have been trying to work on a solution with Cooper for months. They said Cooper knew about the city's policy when he was hired, and his co-workers and supervisor reminded him of it when his relationship began.
After the couple got engaged, Blackmon said, he offered to help Cooper find a job at another fire department in the region, but Cooper declined. Fauntleroy said Cooper was offered jobs in other city departments, and he also declined. Fauntleroy said the city sees the situation as Cooper choosing to leave.
Parrotta said he was unsure how much the city tried to help Cooper. But he compared firefighting to the military, where relatives work in the same branch and make tough decisions every day. He said the deaths of numerous firefighting relatives during the 9-11 attacks is a prime example of how firefighters love each other and go into danger without regard to blood bonds.
"When it's time, we have to go and we have to do it -- it's our duty," Parrotta said. "We serve and protect and we're going to do that."
Parrotta said the union hopes public attention will help persuade the city to change its policy.
"He didn't know he was going to fall in love with the captain's daughter -- the only one who knew this would happen is God," he said. "Maybe this is a wake-up call to Rock Hill to change their policy, because family is what matters."
Rock Hill city officials say they are sticking to the policy.
"It's the right policy for the right reasons," Fauntleroy said. "We understand his personal decision, but we must put the citizens and their safety ahead of the individual and his decision."
