More Bad Tweets for FDNY
For the second time in a week, the FDNY EMS is in the news over racist Tweets.
EMS Lieutenant Timothy Dluhos, whose Twitter name is Bad Lieutenant, was confronted about his posts by NY Post reporters outside his Staten Island home. The posts included references to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is Jewish, as “King Heeb”, black people as “coloreds”, and Asians as “chinks”. To add to the problem his profile picture was Adolf Hitler.
Lt. Dluhos reportedly broke down during the confrontation with reporters, reduced to tears saying “My life is ruined. Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.”
Last week FDNY EMT Joseph Cassano agreed to resign after revelation of his racist and sexist remarks set off a firestorm of controversy. Cassano is the son of FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano, prompting minority groups to question whether racism goes all the way to the top.
Lt. Dluhos has been suspended from FDNY for 30 days while the matter is investigated. More on the story.
I want to feel sorry for the guy, because his career could indeed be over, but how many times do we have to warn our personnel? I'm afraid it's going to take more people like Lt. Dluhos going down in flames before our people finally take notice. I'm reminded of a recent post I saw in my local online newspaper in an article about a man who was allegedly beaten by thugs because he was gay. A commenter responded, "Who cares? He's a (expletive for homosexual)!" As this was one of those increasingly common sites where you have to sign in with your Facebook account to leave a comment, I saw immediately that the person's profile photo was of a young man in a fire department uniform. Next to his name in bold letters it proclaimed, "—- Fire Department." Clearly somebody saw it because the young man came back on within an hour apologizing profousely and asking web editors to take his comment down. I don't know if they ever did. I don't even know if he's still employed. If he is, he shouldn't be. Neither should Lt. Dluhos.
Feel sorry? I dont feel sorry for anyone who swore to protect and serve the public. You are in my eyes a traitor. Why swear to protect people you are racist against? Will I be sorry for a traitor who betrayed the United States of America? No! He betrayed the Fire Service! You cannot tell me he provided adequate services for people who he felt like this about!