Austin firefighter fired for posting sexual pictures on internet www.privateofficer.com
The memo said Garza posted nude pictures of himself, including some showing him having intercourse, on numerous adult dating sites. Garza identified himself as a firefighter on at least two, the memo said.
In the memo, Kerr said Garza “took deliberate steps in some of these postings to connect his sexual proclivities with the firefighting profession, which shows a blatant disregard for the ethics of our chosen profession.”
The memo said a man whose wife had an affair with Garza told the department about the photos in July. The department was not able to find any of the photos at the time and notified Garza of the complaint, the document said.
Garza told the department, “That’s old news, and I don’t do that anymore,” the memo said. Garza told the department he last posted photos in 2006 and had taken them down.
But in August, the man who had complained sent an e-mail to the department that included links to websites where the photos could be found, the memo said.
Because of this, the memo said, it was clear Garza had lied to the department when initially asked about the photos.
Fire union President Bob Nicks, who represented Garza in the investigation, said he plans to appeal the decision to fire Garza.
“He didn’t lie in our recollection of the events,” Nicks said. “We will appeal it, and we do plan on getting the firefighter’s job back.”
The memo said Garza violated Fire Department rules by conducting “acts showing a lack of good moral character.”
Nicks said that rule was written a long time ago and is too far-reaching.
“It basically says your conduct off duty can be brought into judgment and punishment,” Nicks said. “It calls into question at what point can the chief impose her morality on a firefighter conducting off-duty activities not associated with the Fire Department.”
Source:statesman.com
