Civil Service Decisions

Since the Appellant has also filed a discrimination complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Civil Service Commission is dismissing this appeal until MCAD has issued a final decision on the Appellant’s complaint.

The Appeals Court affirmed a Superior Court decision upholding the Commission's decision that the Boston Fire Department had just cause to terminate a firefighter whose hateful statements lowered the public estimation of the Department and were not constitutionally protected.

The Superior Court affirmed the Commission's decision to uphold termination of Boston firefighter stating that Rowe was, "...guilty of substantial misconducting warranting termination.”

The Commission affirmed the discharge of a black Boston firefighter for making vile, racist, homophobic, and misogynistic postings on social media. The Commission’s rejected the Appellant’s claims of bias, disparate treatment, and entitlement to free speech protections under the first amendment.