Firefighters, corrections officers and service members fired or disciplined over old posts

Firefighters, corrections officers and military personnel. 7 published news cases, 2012 to 2024.

Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.

Compiled by Dave Fradette · Updated October 20, 2026

5 of 7cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.

In 5 of the 7 the person lost the role: 4 were dismissed, 1 resigned. In the other 2 they kept it, regained it or faced a suspension or reprimand instead. The content most often concerned violence (3), race (2), politics (2).

By type: meme or image (3), post or comment (2), photo (1), like (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs) and 3 involved a shared meme or image (see the meme and repost cases).

These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.

For how screening works for this group, see the Guide for fire, EMS and military.

The 7 cases

Lost the role2024Fire chief and fire marshal, Prospect Park, PAFacebook post after the attempt on a presidential candidate's life: "A little to the right next time please"Post or commentFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Facebook post after the attempt on a presidential candidate's life: "A little to the right next time please"
How old it was
Days
How it came out
Screenshots reposted in a local Facebook group
Outcome
Resigned; he apologized
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: CBS Philadelphia
Lost the role2021Corrections officer, ConnecticutMeme of men at a gallows with a joke about IslamMeme or imageFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Meme of men at a gallows with a joke about Islam
Outcome
Fired
What to look for in your own history
A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: WSHU
Kept or regained it2020 to 2021Naval Academy midshipman40 replies on Twitter that leadership called inappropriate and in some cases racistPost or commentFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
40 replies on Twitter that leadership called inappropriate and in some cases racist
How old it was
Months
How it came out
Academy investigation
Outcome
Separation ordered, then settled; he graduated
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: AP via Military Times, Stars and Stripes
Lost the role2019Deputy prison warden, state corrections department, WisconsinFive memes the appeals court described as offensive, shared on a friends-only Facebook pageMeme or imageFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Five memes the appeals court described as offensive, shared on a friends-only Facebook page
How old it was
About 1 month
How it came out
An anonymous tip to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; many of his roughly 1,200 friends worked for the department
Outcome
Fired in November 2019; a federal appeals court upheld the ruling against his First Amendment claim in 2025
What to look for in your own history
A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit (via Justia)
Lost the role2018Probationary firefighter, Springfield, OHShared a meme with a racial slur; the city called it "racially insensitive"Meme or imageFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Shared a meme with a racial slur; the city called it "racially insensitive"
Outcome
Fired less than 2 months after hiring
What to look for in your own history
A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: The Root
Lost the role2018Army second lieutenant, Fort Drum, NYGraduation photos with a "Communism will win" message, posted after commissioningPhotoFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Graduation photos with a "Communism will win" message, posted after commissioning
How old it was
About 16 months
How it came out
Public backlash, then an Army investigation
Outcome
Other-than-honorable discharge
What to look for in your own history
Photos aren't read by the scan today. Review old photos by hand, including ones on accounts close to you.
Source: The Gazette (Washington Post)
Kept or regained it2012Two firefighters and a police officer, Columbus, MSLiked a firefighter's Facebook post questioning a mother's whereabouts after her toddler was hit by a carLikeFire, EMS and military
What surfaced
Liked a firefighter's Facebook post questioning a mother's whereabouts after her toddler was hit by a car
How it came out
Reached the fire chief; the mayor and city council reviewed it
Outcome
30-day suspensions for the three who liked it; the firefighter who wrote the post resigned. One officer said he couldn't see the full post on his phone
What to look for in your own history
A like on a post that demeans a group or endorses violence. A like counts even though you didn't write the post.
Source: FireRescue1, Police1

More cases by group

See all 127 cases and the key numbers

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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.

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