Natalie Neysa Alund

nalund@tennessean.com

A Nashville Fire Department District EMS chief is facing disciplinary action over a social media post in which he lashed out at the LGBT community, fire officials said.

Tim Lankford, a nearly 30-year veteran with department, was placed on desk duty last month after department officials learned about several posts on his Facebook page perceived as racial, stereotypical and or threatening toward some members of the public, according to a two-page letter signed by Nashville Fire Department Deputy Director Steve Holt.

The letter, dated June 13, states the posts raised concerns that his opinions could impact his ability to work with others and do his job.

One read he was "so disturbed about the Supreme Court ruling today I can barely even function at my job. What has this country become." The ruling referenced the recent high court's decision to legalize same-sex marriages nationwide.

In another post, he threatened the transgender community with physical harm.

"The first man who goes into a restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery," the May 20th post read.

Lankford is accused of violating the department's social media policy because he identified himself as a NFD employee on his Facebook page and also mentioned his rank as district chief, a supervisor position, Holt wrote in the letter.

Authorities say he failed to "state in clear terms that their expressed views are theirs alone and do not reflect the views of the Nashville Fire Department. Except as authorized, all employees are prohibited from representing the Nashville Fire Department through their personal use of social media."

Landford, in the interim, has been taken out of the field and placed on administrative duties, Fire Department spokesman Brian Haas said.

"I don't even know why I said that stuff because I don't believe it. I've got several friends on this depart who are gay or lesbian," Lanford told Fire Commander Tim Anderson and assistant chiefs Walter Demonbreun Jr. and Lenny Manning during a July 12 disciplinary hearing. "I've never had my character called into question. l I don't like it and I don't like hurting people."

Lankford, 52, said he's experienced a slew of personal issues over the past year and half including the death of his first wife.

"If I had a clearer mind I wouldn't be sitting here," he said. "(When) I said I couldn't function at my job it wasn't because of anything the Supreme Court did it was because I had lost my wife of about 30 years...I don't have any prejudice against anybody."

Lankford, who said he has since remarried, said he has since deleted his Facebook account.

A decision on any disciplinary action on the case is expected to be made by Fire Chief Rick White within the next several days, Haas said Wednesday.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072. Follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.