Fire chief out after racial slur about Rep. Maxine Waters
East Syracuse, NY keeps Jim Brewster on as firefighter & paid department caretaker
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Previously: Fire chief suspended for Facebook racial slur against Congresswoman Waters
You may recall the story in June about a racial slur used against Rep. Maxine Waters in a Facebook comment by East Syracuse (NY) VFD Chief Jim Brewster. According to news coverage, Brewster has now been removed as chief and from his position as a senior department caretaker. Brewster will remain as a firefighter and a paid caretaker of the department. Jim Brewster’s son and brother have both resigned as assistant chiefs but will remain as firefighters.
Michael Benny, cnycentral.com:
The Mayor of East Syracuse says the Village’s embattled fire chief is no longer leading the department.
Jim Brewster was removed from the chief’s job by the village board after he used a racial slur on Facebook back in June.
Mayor Robert Tackman says Brewster will remain a village firefighter. He had been suspended without pay during an investigation into the online post.
Brewster could only be removed as fire chief for “incompetency or misconduct,” according to section 75 of New York State civil service law and had to undergo a hearing before being removed, Tackman said.
A judge recommended Brewster be removed and the board of trustees followed the recommendation, Tackman said.
First assistant chief Dave Brewster, Jim Brewster’s son, and second assistant chief Tom Brewster, Jim Brewster’s brother, both resigned from their leadership positions with the department Wednesday, Tackman said. They will stay on as firefighters.
