Ohio Firefighters Disciplined Over Christmas Photo

Seventeen Lancaster, Ohio firefighters – one entire shift – have been disciplined over a Christmas themed photo they posed for last fall that was later placed on a billboard. The firefighters were assigned to Crew 3, one of Lancaster’s three shifts.

The photo was placed on a billboard during the 2015 holidays. The firefighters reportedly pooled money they would have spent on gifts to pay for the billboard.

City officials who saw the photo were concerned about the religious message that the photo sent, and ordered it removed.

In a letter from City Law Director Randall T. Ullom to Fire Chief Dave Ward, Ullom wrote:

• LFD Crew 3 has put up a billboard picture depicting themselves, some in their Lancaster Fire Department uniforms, with a piece of Lancaster Fire Department apparatus clearly depicting “Lancaster Fire Department” and the holiday message “Merry Christmas.” You have confirmed with me that this billboard and photograph was not authorized by LFD administration for display.
• Please be advised that this billboard creates the risk of civil liability for the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Fire Department as a violation of the neutrality principle of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution which forbids a governmental entity from showing or expressing religious favoritism or partiality.
• This issue has been clearly addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court. As such, I have requested it be removed immediately.

The discipline ranged from written reprimands to a 48 hour suspension. In addition, the city also ordered a retired fire captain with 33 years of service be banned from entering all city fire stations.

Here are copies of the disciplinary actions: Lancaster-Letters-of-reprimand

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