Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Richland County Emergency Services has fired two more employees and had another resign over social media posts they made recently about protesters earlier this month in Columbia
The agency announced Monday they'd completed their investigation into personnel policy violations.The county said the posts were “actions which are grossly unprofessional or grossly violate the standards of Richland County, the Department or a Division.”
The posts referenced the Black Lives Matters protesters who marched through the streets on July 10. That protest briefly led to the blocking of Interstate 126.
"I'll donate to whoever runs over a protester in the roaddway (sic)," said one of the postings. "1 engine connected to a hydrant and deluge gun, solves all the problems said another."
The latest dismissals follow last week's firing of a paramedic for a similar violation. “EMS is called upon to serve citizens in times of duress,” Gerald Seals, the interim County Administrator, in a statement. “The statements on social media were threatening and could be taken as the County having individuals, who because of their bias, may adjust their care – and that erodes public trust and is unacceptable."
The county identified the four employees who are no longer with the agency as the following:
Terminated:
• Tommy Boland, Senior Paramedic, May 7, 2007-July 13, 2016
• Troy Beckham, Paramedic Crew Leader, Nov. 10, 2003-July 15, 2016
• Tyler Dixon, Emergency Medical Technician, July 25, 2011-July 15, 2016
Resigned:
• Donald Oliver, Emergency Medical Technician, May 24, 2008-July 15, 2016
The dismissals come following a similar investigation made by the Columbia Fire Department. In the case of that agency, three employees were fired. Previous Coverage: Firefighters Terminated Over Social Media Posts