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"Who cares? Another dead cop": Florida firefighter terminated after text messages surface

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by orangeblue_coop, Aug 22, 2022.

  1. orangeblue_coop

    orangeblue_coop GC Hall of Fame

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    MIAMI (WSVN) - A City of Miami Fire Rescue firefighter is speaking out hours after the department confirmed he was fired for writing controversial comments in a text thread about law enforcement officers following the passing of Miami-Dade Police Officer Cesar Echaverry.

    Kevin Newcomb was terminated on Friday after he wrote the following profanity-laced remarks in a group chat: “Who cares? Another dead cop, probably against gun control. They didn’t give an [expletive] when kids were dying in that school shooting they stood outside. Cops exist for the government to exercise its monopoly on violence. They want the whole world to stop when one of theirs goes down. How many idiots I had to transport with honor guard their dead bodies from coronavirus because they all were too stupid to wear masks or get vaccinated? All cops are good for is protecting the rich property owners and the status quo. Everything else is a farce. [Expletive] the police.”

    Friday evening, he responded with a lengthy statement. “I am writing this to apologize for the statements that have been circulating that I made earlier this week with some friends in a private chat.” Newcomb went on to write, “I sincerely apologize to those closest to officer Echaverry who have been made to feel more pain because of my words. I wish I could take them back.”

    In a statement, Miami Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Zahralban confirmed Newcomb’s termination, effective Friday. Zahralban wrote, “We have confirmed that the firefighter in question authored a written statement using a social media platform that demonstrated a disregard for human life, demonstrated a violent and antagonistic stance towards civil servants and represented conduct unbecoming of a Miami Firefighter.” “These characteristics make it impossible for this individual to carry out his duties as a first responder in the City of Miami.”

    Fired Miami firefighter apologizes for writing incendiary texts in wake of Officer Echaverry’s death – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale


    I would've thought a firefighter would have more sympathy for a cop killed on duty considering both professions put their lives on the line every time they get a call. Anyway, good on them for firing him.
     
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  2. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    I mean, I detect no lies there, but always a bad move to make it public
     
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  3. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

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    On the fence about this one. Being fired is probably the right thing in this case because he is talking about his job specifically and is in a position of authority; however, what is private anymore? Really nothing can be said or written without putting one’s career and job in jeopardy.
     
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  4. AgingGator

    AgingGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Damn, that dude’s got some serious issues. Now he’s adding unemployment to his list!
     
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  5. phatGator

    phatGator GC Hall of Fame

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    People need to think before they open their mouth or use their fingers to say something.
     
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  6. AgingGator

    AgingGator GC Hall of Fame

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    If you are putting anything out on an email, text, IM, PM, or anything else, you have to assume the risk of possibility/probability that those you sent it to will forward or share it with others.
     
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  7. BigCypressGator1981

    BigCypressGator1981 GC Hall of Fame

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    I don’t disagree with anything he said. But he’s a moron for sending that presumably to a bunch of firefighters. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
     
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  8. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

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    If this was said in a group text then I think it's wrong to fire him. If it was any sort of public platform then yes he deserves it but group chats especially off duty shouldn't really apply unless they expose themselves as racist or imply dereliction of duty and get reported.

    FTR there are usually specific regulations in departments regarding public decorum, social media etc but isn't a "group text" still private?
     
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  9. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

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    Ironically, if he was in a police union, he'd probably still be employed. If you arent in a racist group chat, you cant be a cop these days.
     
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  10. danmanne65

    danmanne65 GC Hall of Fame

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    Somebody told me 20 years ago that when you do anything online you should assume the whole world is going to see it. Didn’t believe it then but did it anyway because I respected him and he was more tech savvy than I. He was right.
     
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  11. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

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    Nah. I don't make those generalizations. Every field has racists and because cops have power its a terrible combination for those that are but I know hundreds of cops and firefighters, there are good people and bad people in both fields and pretty much the same amount in each.

    I don't judge people by association. There are scumbag firefighters, military, police, doctors, teachers etc etc
     
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  12. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

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    As the joke goes, nobody ever wrote a song called "@*$*$ the Firefighters"
     
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  13. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

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    CaNcEL CuLtUrE!!!
     
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  14. tilly

    tilly Superhero Mod. Fast witted. Bulletproof posts. Moderator VIP Member

    Well he put his own integrity in question. That much animosity toward someone who you may have to save one day is scary. He isn't cut out to do that job.

    Imagine if those words became public after a cop died under his care.
     
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  15. librarywestpatron2005

    librarywestpatron2005 Senior

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    Not going to be a pleasant time when Miami police and Miami fire play each other in next charity softball game
     
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  16. danmanne65

    danmanne65 GC Hall of Fame

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    i don’t know about that I have a friend who’s is a retired cop. He still gets between people and danger, it’s the way he is wired. He also uses non modern terminology for certain ethnic groups but he would take a bullet before letting some innocent person take one.
     
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  17. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

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    I can tell you at least with 13 years experience as a fire/medic who works with police often, I have heard plenty of politically incorrect speech by the same firefighters and cops that also never exhibited any hesitation whatsoever to handle their responsibilities while responding to a call. Are there some really bad actors out there? No doubt there are and while some have been exposed we know there are more out there but there is a difference to me in being politically incorrect/crude and overtly racist. I've yet to see cops or medics qualify the persons color,ethnicity or status when responding to vehicle accidents, shootings/stabbings, overdoses, fires etc. For that reason my opinions about these things are pretty nuanced and I don't like generalizations.

    There was a social media incident locally a few years back that resulted in the cop losing their job and rightfully so. He mocked MLK day and posted a pretty ignorant edited photo. It was a private snapchat to a group that someone reported. It's very similar to what happened here but it targeted black people. No way should he have been allowed to be a cop when he outed his feelings about the people he has authority to pull over or investigate. To me that was the difference and why his termination was justified.
     
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  18. tilly

    tilly Superhero Mod. Fast witted. Bulletproof posts. Moderator VIP Member

    I never said otherwise. I said his integrity is harmed and imagine if a ethnic minority were killed under your friends care and his words then went public.