NASHVILLE – An embattled Middle Tennessee fire department official who was heavily criticized over a social media post in which he lashed out at the LGBT community has been suspended from the job, according to disciplinary records released Monday.
Tim Lankford, a nearly 30-year veteran with the Nashville Fire Department, was suspended without pay for 10 days after being found guilty of violating the department’s social media policy, according to a July 20 letter addressed to him and signed by fire Chief Rick White.
As part of his punishment, the letter states, Lankford must also attend a diversity awareness training class.
Records show Lankford, 52, posted several comments on his Facebook page perceived as racial, stereotypical and or threatening toward some members of the public.
Fire officials say Lankford identified himself as an NFD employee on the page where he posted the comments and also mentioned his rank as district chief, a supervisor position.
Authorities say he failed to “state in clear terms that their expressed views are theirs alone and do not reflect the views of the Nashville Fire Department. Except as authorized, all employees are prohibited from representing the Nashville Fire Department through their personal use of social media.”
Lankford had been on desk duty since June after authorities saw the posts, which raised concerns that his opinions could affect his ability to work with others and do his job, according to a two-page letter dated June 13 and signed by Nashville Fire Department Deputy Director Steve Holt.
One post read he was “so disturbed about the Supreme Court ruling today I can barely even function at my job. What has this country become.” The ruling referenced last year’s high court decision to legalize same-sex marriages nationwide.
In another post, he threatened the transgender community with physical harm.
“The first man who goes into a restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery,” the May 20 post read.
During a July 12 disciplinary hearing, Lankford told fire Commander Tim Anderson and assistant chiefs Walter Demonbreun Jr. and Lenny Manning he had experienced a slew of personal issues over the past year and a half including the death of his first wife.
“If I had a clearer mind I wouldn’t be sitting here,” he told the men. “(When) I said I couldn’t function at my job it wasn’t because of anything the Supreme Court did it was because I had lost my wife of about 30 years … I don’t have any prejudice against anybody.” Lankford, who said he has since remarried, said he has deleted his Facebook account.
