Columbia SC Fire Department
A 16-year Columbia Fire division captain was fired Monday from their $53, 722-a-year work in making threatening remarks against individuals in an Ebony life Matter protest that on Sunday evening sealed down an important interstate corridor into Columbia, town officials said Monday.
Capt. Jimmy Morris, a firefighter at North principal Street Fire Station, was fired Monday after town officials discovered he previously made two Twitter posts which he threatened doing problems for protesters should they got in the means.
“Idiots shutting down I-126. Better not be there whenever I get-off work or there was going to be some stepped on foolish asses.”
Jimmy Morris, recently fired captain using the Columbia Fire division
On Sunday evening, in evident response to a S.C. Secessionist celebration raising the Confederate banner in a legally-sanctioned public occasion on State House that mid-day, the Black Lives question motion staged a countertop protest that resulted in the I-126 corridor becoming blocked in the stretch between your Greystone Boulevard and Huger and Elmwood street exits.
In response, right before 10 p.m., Morris published, “Idiots closing down I-126. Do Not be truth be told there whenever I get-off work or there is going to be some go beyond foolish asses.”
About one hour later, Morris included another post.
“Public Service Announcement: in the event that you make an effort to power down an interstate, highway, etc to my means house, you most useful hope I’m not merely one regarding the first automobiles in line since your butt are certain to get stepped on! Period! Which all.”
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said Monday night that Morris’ post never “represent views of this Columbia Fire Department nor the City of Columbia.”
“It was totally inappropriate to post that particular post, ” Jenkins said of acting swiftly to fire Morris.
The articles were especially unacceptable on heels of last week’s violent activities in Baton Rouge, St. Paul and Dallas, Jenkins stated.
“Due into magnitude of the effect your posts had, this is the reason we decided, ” Jenkins said.
“As the town management, there are particular types of behavior and activities that I will maybe not tolerate. Any activities taken fully to communicate or show too little respect the resides and protection of other people drops to the sounding ‘zero threshold.’ ”
Teresa Wilson, City-manager
Jenkins’ decision was sustained by city-manager Teresa Wilson. In a declaration, Wilson said there’s “zero threshold, ” for city employees just who dismiss the protection of other individuals.
“Any actions taken to communicate or show deficiencies in respect when it comes to everyday lives and safety of other individuals drops in to the group of ‘zero tolerance, ’ ” Wilson stated.