Fire Commissioner James Johnson from City of Chester website.
In Chester City, Pennsylvania a battle over following orders and the American flag is brewing. Firefighter James Krapf was sent home without pay yesterday after refusing to remove a flag sticker from his locker. Krapf has been on the department for 11-years. The order came from Fire Commissioner James Johnson.
This is a one day suspension. The firefighter could face a two day suspension next, followed by three days. The next step is to the mayor and council and could be followed by arbitration if this isn’t settled.
You may recall a similar story last December in Newton, MA, where a firefighter and Iraq War veteran initially refused to get rid of his red, white and blue helmet. Thanks to STATter911.com reader Gordon Pippin for giving us a heads-up on today’s story.
Here are excerpts from a Philly.com article by Joelle Farrell:
Johnson directed the force’s 61 members to remove all decorations from the outside of their lockers over the summer after a firefighter posted a cartoon that others found offensive. The drawing, which firefighters said was posted by a black colleague, showed two black men and included a racial slur.
Some firefighters didn’t think the American flag was included in the ban. The flag is stitched on their uniforms, hangs on their trucks, and flies on a pole out front.
“The directive says ‘everything,’ ” said Capt. John Barbato, vice president of the department’s union. “I never would’ve thought the American flag would be included in that.”
Krapf removed a union sticker and a picture of a truck, but refused to scrape off the flag, a one-inch-square sticker that has adorned his locker for a couple of years, he said.
“Anybody who finds the American flag offensive shouldn’t be working there,” Krapf said yesterday.
“I said, ‘No disrespect, Chief, but I’m not scraping that sticker off my locker.’ He said, ‘OK. Go home.’ “
Banning all materials from locker doors was the simplest way to avoid bickering among the staff, Johnson said.
“How do we know what offends who?” he said. “I have to play Solomon here.”
Krapf, 31, said he hoped to speak with the union and the commissioner today and reach a compromise. He doesn’t want to miss more pay, and he’s worried that this will be a negative mark on his record.
“I certainly can’t afford to lose a day’s pay, but it’s something I believe in,” he said.
Also on STATter911 …
- American flag that had been on WWII vets coffin saved from burning home. Family is grateful to Colorado Springs firefighters. – February 18, 2011
- Private parts: No castration. No Fee. Testicle transplant did not satisfy Freeport, New York mayor. Fire chief suspended. – November 30, 2010
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As a manager I can see the Fire Commishs point. The Order is the Order…dont try to use the American Flag to disobey the order. Its “NOT” about the flag. Its about the “order” and who gave it.
It starts with the flag on his locker, then its a picture of a guys girlfriend on their locker, and then its a picture of a rebel flag on another locker…SO WHATS THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDER IF ITS GOING TO BE DISOBEYED or WATERED DOWN….
ITS A BUSINESS and I am sure if you were in any other place working and they “asked”/”ordered” you not to do something and you did it anyway the outcome would be the same as what happened..
I SUPPORT THE MOVE!!!!
Dave,
As a Chief Officer for over 25 years I see the commissioner’s actions as a distasteful example of an ego out of control.
Executive leadership is neither arbitrary or capricious, the “my way or the highway” brand of officer went the way of “riding the back step” in the last century.
Hiding behind mantle of authority or a bunch gold bugles is counterproductive in a an otherwise well run department.
This makes one wonder what is next to go, will American Flags come off uniforms, apparatus, or anywhere on the outside of the station(s)?
The commissioner, as the leader of that organization, needs to re-evaluate his actions as it relates to what it means to serve this country.
Given the fact that today’s fire, rescue, and emergency medical services ARE the front line in the protection of these United States the display of our flag should never be deemed inappropriate.
It is my hope that the Commissioner, the Fire Fighter, and the Union will have a civil discussion, shake hands, and bring this conflict to a reasonable ending.
Dave,
This is another example of a blind authority going off blindly!!
As a chief officer for over 20+ years I am perfectly aware of the chain of command, been teaching it for years, but this is yet another example of failed leadership.
If I were the Mayor I would give the Commissioner a week without pay to reflect back on what is important, on the mission of the department, and why he was hired.
“My way or the highway” officers are a danger to everyone around them, because they tend to shoot from the hip and take actions that serve their ever enlarging egos.
The right thing to do to handle this would be to get out of the office and get down to the station to see those “on to the floor” doing the work, this would be the proactive thing to do.
How about a novel concept of handling this non-emergency issue is with the input from all parties, including those who do the work.
While time consuming, it shows to everyone in the organization that the leader really has their best interests at heart, and is not going off half cocked to satisfy his/her ego.
There is no reasonable explanation to issue a blanket order other about than taking the easy way out.
So to review, the best solution is to meet off line, face to face with the parties, come up with a reasonable but patriotic solution, and put this needless event behind the department.
My thoughts… how about yours?
you are right by saying its not about the Flag its about the order…that argument can also be applied to the incident that “inspired” the memorandum. That incident was a racially charged “cartoon” posted by a black firefighter directed at his white coworkers, which was removed and then followed by another “decoration” directed at his coworkers. That member was not disciplined. I’ll let you speculate as to the reasons yourself. But this member was disciplined…for displaying a flag and a sticker that simply said “support chester firefighters”. Equality means that the concept or rules are applied equally, without passion or predjudice.
I think the Chief should have went home for the day!
SO PLEASE TELL ME.THE COMM SHOULD HAVE MUCH BETTER TINGS TO DO WITH HIS/ AND DEPT TIME. COME ON GET WITH THE FLOW AND STAY OFF THE F/F BACKS FOR HAVING A USA FLAG ON HIS TURN OUTS. WERE WAS THE COMM ON 911. THIS IS ALL ABOUT SOME HALF ASS ORDER PLEASE, GIVE IT A REST, AND TRY REAL HARD TO ACT LIKE A REAL F/F IN THE USA. BETTER YET RET AND GO FAR FAR AWAY , THAT WOULD THE BEST HE COULD DO FOR ALL OUR BROTHER THAT SUPPORT OUR FLAY.
IF NO FLAGS ON THE LOCKERS THEN THEY SHOULD STRIKE OR TAKE THEM OFF THERE UNIFORMS, TRUCKs, TAKE THE ONE DOWN OUT FRONT. HELL ITS BEEN 3 YEARS AND THE CITY WONT SIGN A CONTRACT. I SUPPORT THE CHESTER FIREMEN
You people are not too bright. Dude was suspended because he broke a rule. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. Chief said no stickers on the lockers then NO stickers on the lockers….don’t make this about serving the country, its a firehouse, don’t make this about first amendment rights, they don’t apply to stickers on lockers that you don’t own…and don’t make it about race…enough stuff is really about race that we should leave the dumb stuf that is not out of it…..
I agree with the guy above. And before you beat me with your keyboard, I have been a fireman (career and volunteer) for 20+ years. Before that I served as a lowly enlisted soldier in the military and have fired my weapon at the enemy, making me a veteran.
Now, back to this. Sure it seems appaling the Chief would ask this, I agree. But it’s not about the flag, its about a sticker and a locker. Thats it, comply!.
Why dont we just cover our bodies in an American flag and wear that into work (firehouse) and dare the Chief to be so unpatriotic as to demand you put your uniform on???
Remember right after 9-11, all the American flags on cars?. And those cars flying down the road at 80 miles per hour and Old Glory being torn to shreds. Thats not what I call the proper display of patriotism along with all the Flag magnets that someone decided looked dashing on the ass end of their car. It’s City property, not Firefighter Krapfs’ deeded property.
IT IS ABOUT RACE,THATS WHAT YOU DONT GET THATS WHAT YOU DONT HEAR. WHAT OKAY FOR ONE SHOULD BE OKAY BY ALL.
Ok ‘First Due to the CAPSLOCK key’, prove this is about race. Or are you just going to let the obvious visuals strike fear in the hearts of Daves multiracial readers. Thats sad!.
Guys will do anything to buck the system… If the chief asked them to put their name on the locker, you would have guys not doing it… It is a constant pissing match. These small incidents affect the overall relationship between mangement and labour. Just like parenting, sometime it is “because I said so”…
SAw the news report, gotta side with the chief on this one. The order is the outside of the lockers must be bare.
If they allow the USA flag, then its the gay pride flag, the Iraqi flag, the USSR flag, the confederate flag, There will be somebody puhin the envelope.
OK enough of this trivial management/rank and file BS. Fire fighters are losing their jobs all over this country and these goofs are starting a wee wee-ing match. Children, children each of you take a 5 minute timeout.
This is another “shining example” of zero tolerance and political correctness run amok.
There are more pressing issues that face the Fire Service, but hell… apparently micromanaging what can or cannot be on a locker takes precedence over staffing levels, funding cuts, aging apparatus and crumbling infrastructure.
My fellow Firefighters and American citizens. “That” flag is the symbol of freedom across the world. Many young men and women have fought and died to defend that very symbol. The chief’s directive was WRONG. The chief should visit Walter Reed and tell those poor bastards lying in those hospital wards they can’t have a flag on their lockers. Where are those civil liberties yahoos. They should be knocking on the chief’s door with their lawyers at their sides.
I can’t say anymore I’m too pissed.
D.Pfeil “Vietnam Veteran and Retired Firefighter. Oh yea! I had a flag sticker on my locker.
Bring your flag sticker with you when you go to unemployment office, they might give you an extra $3 on your check. Get a grip, it’s not worth losing your job over.
Our flag is the symbol of the freedom that allows the weak,the spineless, politically correct, and America’s hero’s to post their opinion’s. Convictions are what made this country great. People who stand up for what is right can never be wrong, even if they have to sacrifice their life, let alone a suspension without pay. A patriot has an obligation not to obey this order, when the result is tearing down our flag that so many have died for including the 911 fire fighters and my F16 son-in-law. I salute you James Krapf, thanks for “Standing Up” at a time this country desperately needs leaders. If Commissioner James Johnson is a real leader, he will be accountable and admit he could of done a better job of handling this. If not then I hope some day you will replace him as Commissioner.
PS what fire house can I send a contribution in your name?
Rally is being planned in support of James Krapf, on Monday the 19th at 9am outfront of fire HQ at 14th and Providence ave. Please come out and support Jim!! Bring flags and signs supporting our brother
Looking at some of the posts by it is obvious that in the jaded eyes of most of the posters (RACE) is the issue, therefore the (POINT) is missed. You have several to include the poster that was (IN) the Military…he understands the point, how come the rest of you dont.
It saddens me that I can read Equity blogs from all over the country and read how equality is “NOT” the priority.
The “ORDER” is the “ORDER”. It not about ego as some of you have posted…ITS ABOUT RIGHTING A SHIP THAT CLEARLY HAS A COLOR BARRIER, and the postings on the lockers was used as a sounding board. The “lockers” belong to the DEPARTMENT, as a manager for the agency he has a duty “keep the peace” and maintain equality in the workplace.
10 million people are without a job right now, and the fact that you would protest a flag on property that doesn not belong to this member…clearly shows that you have missed the point.
To all of the CHIEFS that posted. There is a difference between a Boss and a Manager. Boss was the good ole boy system and although many still like it and try to keep it in effect, its outdated and old.
Managing on the other hand is what todays systems operate under, especially since budgets are so strapped. Managers have no room for ego, they manage positions and situations. From what I have read form the story the Commish has “managed” the situation…all of the speculation and the uproar is going to get somebody fired when all the firefighter had to do was understand 1. that agency pays him, 2. that property does not belong to him, so anything contrary to what the owner of the property says violates the use of the property, 3. there are plenty of people w/o a job and would love to have his.
To the Firefighter involed…dont let the jaded views of some put you in a long line of many (unemployed).
33 years in a paid Fire Department and take it as you see fit, but most of you are “off” the real issue, in a “closet” kind of way.
UNTIL THE HAZARDS FACED IN THE FIRE SERVICE CAN BIASED NEITHER SHOULD YOU BE
Wow 33 year and you finally became politically correct. You my friend have missed the point after 33 on the job I would’ve never thought I would here something like this from you. Did you take a lot of sick time in that 33 years like maybe 30 years worth?
Our friend Jimmy has made the number 3 web site (in visits) on the
entire web. Yes, Jimmy has made it to The Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com
) for his stand on keeping the American flag on his locker.
I GUESS YOU’LL WANT THE DIXE FLAG ON LOCKERS. IT HAS STARS AND STRIPES
?
My question here is why was this other person not brought up with any charges or sent home for wearing a hat with the Flag upside down? Oh and by the way I did notice a Flag on the chief’s shirt.
mr Butler shame on you better yet grow up and stop being a little kid. One last thing Love it or Leave it Mr Butler there is a lot of people who fought for that flag so we all can be here. God Bless the USA.
There is a big difference in taking orders at a scene and fire house life rules! There is no schooling for firehouse life management. (This is an ability that only comes with experience and knowing your firefighters well). I agree that on the FG there is not much room for deviation from orders or rules BUT there is a big difference between a races cartoon being placed on a locker and the American Flag on a locker. This Boss failed to address that properly.
*Hence* Lazy or just Dumb management!
Stay safe my friend and keep your troops safe!
I know rules are rules, but we Americans are letting people use any silly little excuse to rob us of our freedoms. I would urge the fireman to stand firm. A bumuch of us are supporting you.