Fire fighter in earring controversy reinstated

Date: 1/28/2009

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Call fire fighter Lt. Darren Langford, who had been dismissed from the East Longmeadow Fire Department on Dec. 16, will be allowed to return to his post following a three-month suspension.

Langford, an 11-year veteran of the call department, was terminated in mid-December due an argument with Fire Chief Richard Brady over a personal appearance policy that would not allow earrings to be worn on duty.

Both parties came before the Board of Selectmen Monday evening to review the matter of employee discipline, where it was determined that Langford's "earring [wasn't] the isssue...it's the lack of respect for authority," according to Board of Selectmen Chair James Driscoll.

For the complete story, see the Feb. 2 edition of The Reminder and www.thereminder.com.