Massachusetts Firefighter Told to Remove Flag From Helmet

Posted: 12-17-2008
Updated: 12-17-2008 11:43:56 AM

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Courtesy of WBZ-TV



Courtesy of WBZ-TV

The Newton firefighter is being told that he has to remove the American flag design that is painted on his fire helmet, because the chief says it goes against uniform standards.

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NEWTON, Mass. -- A local firefighter has spent three years fighting fires. Before that he was in Iraq fighting for our country. Now Richard Busa is in a battle with the Newton Fire Department.

Busa's fight was first brought to light in a column in the Newton Tab. He is being told that he has to remove the American flag design that is painted on his fire helmet, because the chief says it goes against uniform standards.

However, Busa says he won't do it and the threat of disciplinary action won't change his mind. He says if the majority of firefighters thought it was offensive or a safety issue, he would take it off. But that has not happened.

Chief Joseph LaCroix is a Vietnam war veteran. He says the request to remove the flag has nothing to do with patriotism or not wanting the flag, but a uniform is just that -- a uniform. If he allows one firefighter to paint his entire helmet, what is to stop others from choosing designs of their own.

LaCroix said small amounts of paint and stickers are okay on helmets, but Busa's design, he said, crosses the line.

Republished with permission of WBZ-TV.

 

I agree with the Chief, he should respect the uniform as much as he respects the flag and fall into line. The next guy will paint a swastika on his helmet and say that because the other guy is allowed his custom painted flag helmet, then he should be too.

 

Newton is 60 miles east of me. It is a suburb of Boston. I heard of this a few weeks ago through a statewide union meeting. We had a similar issue in my city. I agree with Top on this. We agreed on stickers.


Tim

 

I kind of agree with the cheif as well. If I was the chief, I'd change the uniform code to include the flag...problem solved.

 

Give'em an inch and they take a meter.Same thing goes on here.But I figured you East Coast liberals might be more lenient.

 

LOL, Not all of us are liberals. You should have seen the flack I got for having a McCain sticker on my truck, the brass loved it. I am at the station right now writing up several grievances.




Tim