Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker

[festus]

Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker

Saturday, October 17, 2009


A Pennslyvania firefighter was suspended without pay for refusing to remove an American flag sticker from his locker, Myfoxphilly.com reported.

James Krapf of Chester, Pa., violated a department policy that states personal items can only be posted inside employee lockers when he stuck the flag on the outside. According to Myfoxphilly.com, the firefighters' union warned 11 others to remove personal items or face similar suspensions, all without pay.

The initial ban came after an incident in which some firefighters complained about a cartoon posted in the firehouse that they found racially offensive.

Krapf was suspended Thursday, and so far is the only firefighter to be hit with the penalty.

"I shouldn't have to remove the flag of the country I believe in. I love my country," Krapf told Myfoxphilly.com. "I love my job. I love helping people. I've been doing this 11 years in the City of Chester, so this is something I love to do."

Krapf said he wants to meet with the fire commissioner and the mayor to discuss the issue. The fire commissioner told local media outlets that banning all materials from locker doors was the simplest way to avoid bickering among the staff.

END OF FOX NEWS ARTICLE


WHAT THE HELL ARE WE COMING TO?

 

[Glock Fan]

WHAT THE HELL ARE WE COMING TO?

Though I don't agree with the suspension, I do understand the reasoning behind it. Prohibiting ALL personal items from being posted on the outside of lockers is a fair way to handle the situation. Imagine the many ways abuse can occur if this policy wasn't in place. Folks would be able to post flags of other nations claiming that it's their "nation of origin". The result could be quite ugly. I would much rather have a policy that states "no items are to be posted" than to have to deal with it on a case by case basis.




gf

 

[HK4U]

I wonder if it had been the Kenyan flag it would have been different?

 

[AZSATT]

I'm sorry. I can't accept the Flag of the United States as a 'personal item' when it's the flag of THIS country and we're at war....

If it was a pin up of some bimbo - ok. If it was a 'Ford rules Chevy sucks' sticker - ok. If it was an inflamatory, highly political and/or derrogatory sticker - ok. This IS AMERICA....

BUT the U.S. Flag should be mandated to be displayed (IMHO).... and anyone 'offended' at the image of Old Glory - especially considering we're a nation at war - SHOULD jump to the top of the Homeland Security's 'hot list'....

Some Taliban goober in some Pakistani cave somewhere must laugh their unwiped butts off when they see this kind of insanity in the land of the blue-eyed infadels. It's embarrassing. America has become the land of the politically correct, casterated pansies....

 

[Glock Fan]

I'm sorry. I can't accept the Flag of the United States as a 'personal item' when it's the flag of THIS country and we're at war....

If it was a pin up of some bimbo - ok. If it was a 'Ford rules Chevy sucks' sticker - ok. If it was an inflamatory, highly political and/or derrogatory sticker - ok. This IS AMERICA....

BUT the U.S. Flag should be mandated to be displayed (IMHO).... and anyone 'offended' at the image of Old Glory - especially considering we're a nation at war - SHOULD jump to the top of the Homeland Security's 'hot list'....

Some Taliban goober in some Pakistani cave somewhere must laugh their unwiped butts off when they see this kind of insanity in the land of the blue-eyed infadels. It's embarrassing. America has become the land of the politically correct, casterated pansies....

Coming from a military background, I'm all for the display of the U.S. Flag. I'm not saying that I or anyone was offended by the display of the flag on the locker. Due to the flag being displayed on only one locker, I'd say it becomes the personal choice of the individual firefigher, and therefore a "personal item". Maybe he can talk to his fellow firefighers and have them all display the flag on the locker. That would show uniformity and also encourage unit cohesion. I don't think suspension was warranted in this case.



gf

 

[oldvet53]

I'm sorry. I can't accept the Flag of the United States as a 'personal item' when it's the flag of THIS country and we're at war....

If it was a pin up of some bimbo - ok. If it was a 'Ford rules Chevy sucks' sticker - ok. If it was an inflamatory, highly political and/or derrogatory sticker - ok. This IS AMERICA....

BUT the U.S. Flag should be mandated to be displayed (IMHO).... and anyone 'offended' at the image of Old Glory - especially considering we're a nation at war - SHOULD jump to the top of the Homeland Security's 'hot list'....

Some Taliban goober in some Pakistani cave somewhere must laugh their unwiped butts off when they see this kind of insanity in the land of the blue-eyed infadels. It's embarrassing. America has become the land of the politically correct, casterated pansies....

amen!:angry:

 

[Confess]

I don't see it as an issue of the Flag. The rules are nothing on the outside of the locker. It's pretty simple.Others removed the stickers on their lockers.


It's not a slight against Old Glory. It's punishment for not following the rules. He was informed of the rules as well as the penalties. He chose to ignore the rule, therefore he must suffer the penalty. Unfortunately being a sticker of our Nation's Flag doesn't exempt it from the policies.

I'd be upset if this guy was singled out and punished. He wasn't. It was a blanket policy.:big_boss: