Advertisement Weymouth firefighter suspended 90 days over Facebook post against Narcan, addicts Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Officials have suspended a firefighter for 90 days without pay following a controversial post he made on his personal Facebook page regarding opiate addicts and the drug Narcan. Watch announcementWeymouth Mayor Robert Hedlund announced in a press conference Monday the 90-day suspension is without pay and the firefighter will have to undergo sensitivity and social media training. The firefighter will be reassigned to a non-frontline position when the suspension is over. Town officials launched an investigation after the post allegedly made to a Weymouth firefighter's personal Facebook account denounced opiate addicts and the drug Narcan, calling the overdose-reversing drug “the worst drug ever created.”The posts suggest letting overdose victims die.Hedlund told WCVB news partner The Patriot Ledger he was “well aware” of the alleged Facebook post after he and Weymouth Fire Chief Keith Stark received emails from several upset residents.Hedlund told WCVB Sunday night that the town's first responders take their jobs very seriously. "We have a mission to protect and save lives. The post sends a different message than that."People from across the country flooded the fire department's Facebook page, some calling the comments disgraceful and saying the firefighter in question should lose his job.The authenticity of the post had not been verified, but the mayor said both the fire chief and town counsel are aware of it and a meeting was scheduled for Monday morning.Chief Stark acknowledged the situation in an email statement."The comments posted do not reflect the philosophy or values we hold as a fire department or town,” Stark said. Officials hope the suspension is a lesson for the city's first responders regarding social media. The Patriot Ledger reported there were 185 confirmed and suspected opioid overdoses resulting in 24 deaths in Weymouth in 2015. Melissa Hurley, director of media relations for the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, released an initial statement Sunday afternoon on behalf of James Young, union president of the Weymouth Firefighters Local 1616.The statement expressed disapproval of the post and reassured that the safety of all Weymouth residents is a priority. Later, Hurley said to disregard those initial comments, saying Local 1616 would release a statement directly.Local 1616 did not release a statement by Sunday evening, and Young could not be reached for comment.10978732