Fire truck flags removed over liability concerns & commissioners not being informed

Watch interview with chief & union president over board’s decision

A ceremony was held yesterday (Tuesday) to remove United States Flags from the rear of fire apparatus at the Arlington Fire District in Poughkeepsie, New York. The Board of Fire Commissioners ordered the removal of the flags saying they weren’t informed about the installation and citing concerns about liability.

Previously: 
Another fire district bans US flag from fire trucks

Nina Schutzman, Poughkeepsie Journal:

Fire Chief Tory Gallante was directed by the Board of Fire Commissioners to remove the flags from the backs of the trucks during Monday’s meeting. He declined to comment on specifics of why the decision was made but said he is “very disappointed with their direction.”

Arlington Fire Commissioner Chairman Jim Beretta said the board majority feel the flags are a “liability during normal operations for our people and other motorists,” and that the board had not been consulted before the flags were mounted.

The flags, which were only recently mounted on the trucks at the request of the union, were removed during a ceremony at Arlington headquarters in the Town of Poughkeepsie Tuesday.