Offensive Post about Vice President by Schenectady, NY, Deputy Fire Chief Under Review

SCHENECTADY — The city is reviewing a Facebook comment made by an off-duty deputy fire chief that calls Vice President Kamala Harris a "filthy lying scumbag liberal whore."

The comment made by Schenectady Deputy Chief Douglas Faulisi Jr. was under a public post that appeared to be commenting on Harris during Tuesday night's presidential debate between her and former President Donald Trump.

"9 minutes in and she's so full of s—t," the post said.

"She's a filthy lying scumbag liberal whore and these moderators act like they are getting paid by the DNC," Faulisi responded.

Faulisi could not immediately be reached for comment. A call made to a number listed under his name was not returned.

City Mayor Gary McCarthy said Faulisi was contacted by city fire Chief Donald Mareno and acknowledged it was his comment. McCarthy said he, Mareno, Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Devine and other officials were reviewing it, but it would be a few days before any decisions about how it might impact Faulisi are made.

"I'm not happy with it," McCarthy said. "I would characterize the post as being poor word choice and inflammatory."

But he also noted Faulisi was off duty when posting. Mareno emphasized this as well and said Faulisi was not speaking on behalf of the department.

"He was acting as a private citizen," he said.

Mareno said the fire department has a policy for posting on social media, and that Faulisi's post would be investigated and handled internally.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the comment was still up on Facebook.

Faulisi has been with the department for over two decades and was promoted to deputy chief in 2019. The Times Union profiled him in 2021 along with other individuals impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks 20 years earlier. Faulisi was a rookie firefighter with the department when Schenectady firefighters responded to the aftermath of the attacks.

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