Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker

***Galax Steeler*** · 10-18-2009, 07:26 AM

A Pennslyvania firefighter was suspended without pay for refusing to remove an American flag sticker from his locker, Myfoxphilly.com reported.

James Krapf of Chester, Pa., violated a department policy that states personal items can only be posted inside employee lockers when he stuck the flag on the outside. According to Myfoxphilly.com, the firefighters' union warned 11 others to remove personal items or face similar suspensions, all without pay.

The initial ban came after an incident in which some firefighters complained about a cartoon posted in the firehouse that they found racially offensive.

Krapf was suspended Thursday, and so far is the only firefighter to be hit with the penalty.

"I shouldn't have to remove the flag of the country I believe in. I love my country," Krapf told Myfoxphilly.com. "I love my job. I love helping people. I've been doing this 11 years in the City of Chester, so this is something I love to do."

Krapf said he wants to meet with the fire commissioner and the mayor to discuss the issue. The fire commissioner told local media outlets that banning all materials from locker doors was the simplest way to avoid bickering among the staff.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews

HometownGal · 10-18-2009, 08:13 AM

If this is indeed true, I smell the rotten stench of an ACLU lawyer coming.

revefsreleets · 10-18-2009, 08:17 AM

Another example of PC run amok, this time flying in the face of common sense...

Preacher · 10-18-2009, 10:59 AM

Actually, I gotta say I agree that he should have been fined.

It seems that it was a rule that NOTHING is on the front of the locker. Nothing means nothing.

St33lersguy · 10-18-2009, 11:08 AM

This is America, not Russia, China, Iran or one of those other communist anti-american slob countries, this is America, the land of the free. Getting suspended for hanging a U.S. flag in america is super ridiculous

devilsdancefloor · 10-18-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preacher

Actually, I gotta say I agree that he should have been fined.

It seems that it was a rule that NOTHING is on the front of the locker. Nothing means nothing.

well i think th erule was made to stop the tits and ass being shown on lockers i would guess. this could have been ignored.

SteelTalons · 10-18-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preacher

Actually, I gotta say I agree that he should have been fined.

It seems that it was a rule that NOTHING is on the front of the locker. Nothing means nothing.

Thats how I feel about it. Had nothing to do with the fact it was an American Flag and everything to do with the fact he stuck SOMETHING on the outside of the locker when he had already been told not to. Period.

They are tryna keep the place tidy and professional looking as all workplaces try to(for the most part), and having shit plastered on the front of everything doesn't fit with that objective.

Preacher · 10-18-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilsdancefloor

well i think th erule was made to stop the tits and ass being shown on lockers i would guess. this could have been ignored.

The problem with it being ignored, is that you then enter a gray area of what is and is not "ok." The second something is not "ok", you open yourself up to charges of favoritism.

maybe the rule will be changed a bit and grace shown here. But that probably won't happen. Common sense dictates american flags should be Ok, as well as state flags in a firehouse.

But it won't be, because if you allow that, then why not an irish flag, italian flag, or kenyan flag? That is what they are avoiding.

Personally, I think a clean "nothing on the front" rule makes it simple.

revefsreleets · 10-18-2009, 11:44 AM

Suspension is WAY too harsh a penalty...

Preacher · 10-18-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Suspension is WAY too harsh a penalty...

Unless it was a 4th or 5th time... Or it has been a RANCOROUS issue... and the punishment was explicit with the order up front, I completely agree.

10-18-2009, 07:26 AM	#1
*Galax Steeler* The Virginia Hillbilly Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Galax Va Posts: 19,019 Gender: Male Member Number: 3287 Thanks: 50 Thanked 124 Times in 91 Posts	Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker A Pennslyvania firefighter was suspended without pay for refusing to remove an American flag sticker from his locker, Myfoxphilly.com reported. James Krapf of Chester, Pa., violated a department policy that states personal items can only be posted inside employee lockers when he stuck the flag on the outside. According to Myfoxphilly.com, the firefighters' union warned 11 others to remove personal items or face similar suspensions, all without pay. The initial ban came after an incident in which some firefighters complained about a cartoon posted in the firehouse that they found racially offensive. Krapf was suspended Thursday, and so far is the only firefighter to be hit with the penalty. "I shouldn't have to remove the flag of the country I believe in. I love my country," Krapf told Myfoxphilly.com. "I love my job. I love helping people. I've been doing this 11 years in the City of Chester, so this is something I love to do." Krapf said he wants to meet with the fire commissioner and the mayor to discuss the issue. The fire commissioner told local media outlets that banning all materials from locker doors was the simplest way to avoid bickering among the staff. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews __________________

10-18-2009, 08:13 AM	#2
HometownGal Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Burgh Posts: 21,479 Gender: Female Member Number: 2413 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker If this is indeed true, I smell the rotten stench of an ACLU lawyer coming. __________________ The Anti-Wahoo

10-18-2009, 08:17 AM	#3
revefsreleets Living Legend Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Akron, Ohio Home of LeBron James Posts: 15,403 Gender: Male Member Number: 5353 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker Another example of PC run amok, this time flying in the face of common sense... __________________ *Official Steelersfever Arians Nuthugger*

10-18-2009, 10:59 AM	#4
Preacher Water Boy Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3 Member Number: 16327 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker Actually, I gotta say I agree that he should have been fined. It seems that it was a rule that NOTHING is on the front of the locker. Nothing means nothing.

10-18-2009, 11:08 AM	#5
St33lersguy Assistant Coach Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,454 Member Number: 8456 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker This is America, not Russia, China, Iran or one of those other communist anti-american slob countries, this is America, the land of the free. Getting suspended for hanging a U.S. flag in america is super ridiculous

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10-18-2009, 11:44 AM	#9
revefsreleets Living Legend Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Akron, Ohio Home of LeBron James Posts: 15,403 Gender: Male Member Number: 5353 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pennsylvania Firefighter Suspended for U.S. Flag on Locker Suspension is WAY too harsh a penalty... __________________ *Official Steelersfever Arians Nuthugger*

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