A Brookline firefighter was fired this week after allegedly beating up a customers at Anna's Taqueria because he took too long to order food.

Joseph Ward, 37, was arrested Oct. 11 just before midnight. Witnesses said Ward was waiting in line at the burrito shop and ordered a male customer to hurry up. The pair then went outside where a fight ensured—police said Ward punched the man in the face five to seven times, hurled a bottle at him, called him a "homeless (expletive)," and kicked him. He only stopped when a girl screamed at him, police said. The victim was hospitalized and released.

The Board of Selectmen this week voted to fire Ward. The board also fired another firefighter, Jeremy Joseph, who on Oct. 10 allegedly drove drunk in Newton, crashed into another vehicle—injuring the driver, then fled the scene. "Terminating career employees is one of the most difficult actions a Selectman can take," Selectmen said in a statement. "But in these cases the actions of the employees were egregious, violating the rules and regulations of the fire department and damaging the reputation and credibility of the fire department and the town."

The local firefighters' union promised to appeal the firings. "These firefighters were fired without even an attempt at investigating the true circumstances of the incidents," Paul Trahon, president of Brookline Local 950, said in a statement. "Their terminations were without just cause or due process, and will be appealed."



