Earle implements new social media policy

Earle implements new social media policy

City adopts guidelines for employees in wake of ex- firefighter’s Facebook rant

news@theeveningtimes.com Following the firing of a volunteer fireman over an inappropriate comment he made on Facebook, Earle is working on developing policy guidelines for social media that would apply to city employees.

Last month, firefighter Jason Marotti was let go after he posted on Facebook that NFL firefighters should be shot if they kneel or stay in the locker room during the national anthem.

“With all that went on and is going on and will go on on Facebook these days, we need some policies that will give us proper guidance on how to handle something like that,” said Mayor Sherman Smith.

The comments came in the wake of statements made by President Donald Trump, who criticized NFL players for not standing during the national anthem. Trump went on to say that those players should be fired by team owners for being disrespectful to the flag, police, and the military. Over 100 NFL players kneeled or locked arms to protest Trump’s comments.

Marotti wrote that “Trump should post snipers at every game and each player that takes a knee or sits in the locker room should be shot in the head.” His comments made national news and prompted fire department officials to issue a statement saying they “in no way agree with the statements” and that that type of behavior “will not be tolerated.”

Earle Fire Department has a policy which prohibits its members from posting comments on social media which reflect poorly on the department.

Marotti later issued an apology calling his remarks childish and that he regretted embarrassing the department.

Smith said he has asked the city attorney to look at some sample policies regarding what constitutes proper and improper conduct for employees on social media in other cities and to draft a policy for Earle.

“I’ve asked him to get some guidance from the Municipal League and some best practices from other cities because this isn’t going to go away,” Smith said. “I don’t see social media going away anytime soon. So, we need some policies in place.”

By Mark Randall