Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Florida Fire Captain Demoted for Posting Expletive Facebook Rant about Trayvon Martin

May 15, 2012 Updated May 15, 2012 at 9:01 AM PDT

A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue captain, whose Facebook comment about the Trayvon Martin shooting spurred an internal investigation, was demoted two ranks to firefighter Monday in a letter from the fire chief.

Brian Beckmann, who posted the comment April 11, must also complete a Fit for Duty evaluation and diversity and/or sensitivity training, the letter from Fire Chief William Bryson said.

Beckmann may appeal the decision within 14 days.

A copy of Beckmann?s initial Facebook post was in the Finding of Fact Report released by the department.

Besides having disparaging words for the prosecutor, the post also said: "I and my coworkers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, (expletive), ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents, but like Mrs. Corey, we speak only the truth. They're just misunderstood little church going angels and the ghetto hoodie look doesn't have anything to do with why people wonder if they're about to get jacked by a thug,? he posted.

A disciplinary report said that the comment altered the reputation of the Fire Rescue department.

?The statement posted cast the subject in a negative light as well as brought ill repute to our entire organization as a result of the reference to 'my co-workers.'"

Beckmann, who said in an interview with the department that he was not the author of the post and rather copied it from what he thought was an editorial reply to a news article or blog, apologized to Bryson in a note.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez released a statement Monday that said he agreed with the department?s decision.

?The comments made by Captain Beckmann were reprehensible and will not be tolerated,? Gimenez said. ?We can?t have our employees, especially a supervisor, making such disparaging comments about any member of our community, much less one of our own employees."

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