The city of Harper Woods has begun an investigation after a collection of images showing the first responders of Harper Woods making gestures “probably related to what some describe as the ‘white supremacist movement’.”
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights will investigate the case after city officials became aware of the photos, which were allegedly posted on “one of the other websites affiliated with white supremacists,” according to city attorney John Gillooly.
One of the first to respond to the footage is a Harper Woods firefighter, according to Gillooly. Other public protection officials have been known.
This firefighter is a branch captain and lately an active employee, Gillooly said.
The village had already been aware of a photograph of bachelor that appeared with a gesture of the hand of white supremacist in a photo posted with other firefighters after a fire. An internal investigation was conducted and, first, the firefighter was authorized and allowed to return to work.
The initial investigation began after 4 firefighters posed on a device provided through the branch to take a photo at the fire station after a fire scene with multiple alarms on June 30, according to an advertisement posted Wednesday on the city’s website. He said the photo was posted on a personal Facebook page officially not affiliated with the city, although it is controlled and supervised exclusively through the Harper Woods Fire Department.
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The firefighter who gestured with his hand was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
He said one of the two investigators was convinced that the act was “not motivated by any ill-intention, but was a component of a continuous circle of family play.” The user claimed that the firefighter had been considered “extremely remorseful, distressed and had learned why his movements generated concern.”
The research partner made the decision that “given the consistency of the stories of all parties involved, the explanation of the gesture and other compelling information, it would be incredibly difficult to refute that the gesture was more than just out of point and next to the dot game,” he said.
Meredith Spelbring is an intern at the Detroit Free Press. Find it on [email protected] or Twitter – mother0415.