Another fire department which could have used a social media policy!
The Weymouth, Massachusetts Fire Department is composed of 92 paid members, operating 3 engine and 1 ladder company. According to its website, the department responds to 7000 calls a year, with over two third of those calls EMS-related.
Even a presumably well-trained Department can suffer from lapse of good judgment of its members. Firefighters, as government employees, have diminished First Amendment rights compared to private sector employees.
According to FireFighterNation, Weymouth firefighter Mark Carron was suspended for a Facebook post criticizing the use of Narcan on addicts. He is alleged to have posted that “Narcan is the worst drug ever created, let the shit bags die … I for one get no extra money for it.”
Weymouth Fire Chief Keith Stark said that Carron is sorry for his post, “and understands the ramifications of his actions.” However it is resolved, this episode provides another example of the need for an effective social media policy, and social media and sensitivity training, for all members of a fire department. Every department should create guidelines for how personnel post information online, not just confidential information but also sensitive information, and not just in the official capacities but even in their individual, non-professional capacities.
Social media policies are not difficult to find – I have some forms which can be shared, but adopting a policy, training personnel, and making sure they buy in, is not so easy and must be tailored specifically to each department.
