PRINGFIELD - A Springfield man has become the first firefighter in the state to be fired under a Massachusetts law prohibiting firefighters and police officers from smoking, on or off the job. Posted on 11/01/2002 4:25:30 AM PST by Lance Romance
Springfield firefighter fired for smoking cigarette in car
By Associated Press, 11/1/2002
PRINGFIELD - A Springfield man has become the first firefighter in the state to be fired under a Massachusetts law prohibiting firefighters and police officers from smoking, on or off the job.
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John S. Marrero, 25, was smoking when a trooper arrested him on July 22 for driving erratically, the Springfield Fire Commission found. He also faces criminal charges of possession of crack cocaine and OxyContin and several motor vehicle violations.
Marrero pleaded innocent, saying he was driving a borrowed car when he was arrested and did not know there were drugs in the vehicle, according to the Union-News of Springfield.
His criminal trial is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Springfield District Court, and he is free on personal recognizance. He was fired from the department Wednesday.
The no-smoking law calls for the firing of any firefighter or police officer hired after Jan. 1, 1988, who is caught smoking tobacco products on or off duty.
The law was enacted under a pension reform measure that automatically presumes that heart ailments for police and firefighters are job-related disabilities. The accidental disability pension provides for 72 percent of a police officer or firefighter's final salary, annuity, and allowance for dependents - all tax free.
Kevin Garvey, president of Springfield Association of Fire Fighters, Local 648, said the union will appeal the finding to the state Civil Service Commission.
It's legal and it's my choice. Your life is not my problem.
By the way, I hear there's going to be a bean sprout shortage this year. You might want to stock up now.
Do you live your life through a series of hypothetical worst case scenarios?
You are really afraid of second hand smoke someone might blow in your face because it could cause cancer.
Maybe the electrician who wired your house did a poor job that could cause it to burn down.
Or your gas furnace could be pumping carbon monoxide into your house.
Maybe your house is over an ancient Indian burial ground and the spirits are possessing your children.
Your stupidity is not my fault, but I will concede that your spelling and grammar are improving. Keep up the good work. That GED is in the mail.
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