Metro to Pay $1.8m to Firefighter Who Was Demoted for Controversial Facebook Posts

Metro Council’s decision to reject a proposed settlement with a fire department employee, who was demoted for criticizing Black Lives Matter protesters, tremendously backfired.

By the numbers: The Metro Legal Department wanted to settle the case for $105,000, but needed Metro Council approval. In March 2024, council unanimously rejected the legal department’s advice, and sent the case to trial.

• A federal jury voted on Friday to award demoted captain Tracy Turner just under $1.8 million.

Catch up quick: The controversy in 2020 began when Turner bashed BLM protestors on his Facebook page, according to Fox 17.

• In one post, Turner wrote “These protesters are the stupidest people on the planet, other than the arsonist and looters that hang out with them.” {snip}

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Friction point: In his federal lawsuit, Turner argued he had a 25-year track record of good performance and that his posts were non-threatening and protected by the First Amendment.

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