Firefighter Says Saving One Dog Is ‘More Important’ Than A Million Black People
But some folks will never learn.
A volunteer Franklin Township, Ohio, firefighter lost his job after his racist Facebook post came to light.
What made the post especially egregious was that his rant was not just derogatory to black people, but it actually related specifically to his job.
WHIO reports that 20-year-old Tyler Roysdon was suspended without pay Tuesday by Fire Chief Steve Bishop after a Facebook post attributed to him said that if he had to choose between saving a dog or a black man from a burning building that he would save the dog first because “one dog is more important than a million niggers.”
Township Administrator Traci Stivers said in an email that she did not know how Chief Bishop learned of the online comment on Tuesday or how long the post was online before he was informed of it.
Stivers said that Bishop took the most aggressive step he was legally allowed to, as he does not have the authority to terminate employees. She said any terminations require a vote by the town’s trustees.
“This is not acceptable behavior for a township employee,” Stivers said in the statement. “As a rule all employees are given a closed-door disciplinary hearing that gives them a chance to provide witnesses or evidence providing their innocence.”
Trustees President Brian Morris came out strongly against Roysdon’s post.
“He blatantly said on social media that he wouldn’t do that,” Morris said. “Even if you take race out of it, it still would be wrong. I’m disgusted in what he said. There is no reason for him to say that anytime, anywhere … That should never be said.”
“I want people to realize this is only one man’s comment,” Morris said. “We have a great group of men (firefighters) and disgusting comments from one individual does not represent the entire fire department.”
On Wednesday, shortly after being informed of the controversy, the trustees voted to set Roysdon’s disciplinary hearing for 7 p.m. on Sept. 27.
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