An East Texas firefighter has been terminated for allegedly praising the Charleston, S.C., shooter on social media.
Firefighter Kurtis Cook, a volunteer with the Mabank Volunteer Fire Department, reportedly posted on The Post and Courier’s Facebook page a comment that supported Dylann Roof, the alleged shooter that left nine Bible study attendees dead.
The social media post, which appears to have been removed from the Charleston newspaper’s Facebook page, was widely reported in news media venues.
One of those outlets, 7KLTV, reported Cook’s post reporting his words. “He [Dylann Roof] needs to be praised for the good deed he has done,” Cook allegedly posted on Facebook.
After being made aware of the post, the command staff investigated the allegation and took swift action. On its Facebook page, Mabank fire command initially posted this: “The Mabank Fire Department Command Staff is in the process of investigating the allegations being made of Firefighter Kurtis Cook. The Command Staff wants the public to know that the MFD takes these allegations seriously and will take the appropriate actions.”
Within an hour of announcing its investigation, the fire department reported it had terminated Cook for his action. The department posted the following response: “As of 1123 hrs, after an investigation in the allegations being made of Firefighter Kurtis Cook, the Mabank Fire Department Command Staff has terminated Kurtis Cook as a volunteer Firefighter permanently and has trespassed him from all Mabank Fire Department property. The Mabank Fire Department does not condone nor promote these type of actions or thoughts. On behalf of all members, the Mabank Fire Department offers our deepest apologies to all that were offended by his actions and comments.”
Response to the department’s action has been positive and widespread.
It appears that Cook has taken down his personal Facebook page.
