Controversy Continues Over Firefighter's Trayvon Martin Case Facebook Comments

[maddezmom]

Reactions continued to roll in Monday to comments that a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue captain made about the Trayvon Martin case on his personal Facebook page, as the department said it would keep investigating the incident and report its findings to Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in a statement that the comments from Capt. Brian Beckmann, who has been with the county since 1997, “are the opinion of the individual, and does not reflect the feelings of the department as a whole.”

~snip~

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Controversy-Continues-Over-Firefighters-Trayvon-Martin-Case-Facebook-Comments-147684695.html

Social media, 1st amendment collide
But Miami-Dade Fire Department Captain Brian Beckmann, because his employer is county government, has more freedom in cyberspace ranting, and is legally protected from consequence unless he has violated a policy.

Beckmann's Facebook posting, in which he opines about welfare mothers, absent parents, and thugs relative to the Trayvon Martin murder case, has drawn both calls for his termination and messages of support from the community.

"Here we have this super controversial thing," said Julin. "Is that going to interfere with the ability to do his job or the Fire Department's ability to do its job?"

Therein lies some criteria for a public employer's decision about whether to mete out consequences. Legally, a government employer can take action if an employee's expression, even on personal time on personal social media accounts, if the message impedes job duties or performance, impairs relationships, or demeans the office or agency.

more: http://www.local10.com/news/Social-media-1st-amendment-collide/-/1717324/10934096/-/d4mktt/-/index.html

That's what the Fort Lauderdale police department considered when it suspended officer Luis Pagan in January for what the department called "raunchy tweets with porn stars", and "criticizing department brass."

[leftyohiolib]

1. well we cant have it both ways youre either fired for fb postings or youre not

[Fresh_Start]

2. some one needs to analyze the performance of his station

when responding to 'minority' areas versus the areas where this captain approves.
Want to bet they respond slower?
Prejudice doesn't just show up in bad speak it also shows up in bad action.

[frylock]

3. it "reflect(s) the feelings of the department as a whole” when dude references..

his co-workers. fire his ass already.

[musiclawyer]

4. Like I said yesterday, the legal issue is whether his speeech causes

enough disruption in the workplace to outweigh his right to speak.
Hence, the outcome really is in the hands of the people in his district. Enough of them make a stink and the department becomes paralyzed, game over. His bosses, elected officials or people appointed by elected officials will have no choice.