Oh what a tangled web, WCNC uncovered:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte's city manager has ordered an independent third party investigation into the firing of a former Charlotte Fire Department employee, who says she's a whistleblower.
Crystal Eschert was a fire investigator who complained the air quality and working conditions in the arson task force building on North Graham Street were unhealthy.
But City Manager Ron Carlee says Eschert broke the rules with an inflammatory Facebook posting on her private account and her firing appears to be justified.
The city manager points to a statement Eschert made on her Facebook account about the Ferguson Missouri police shooting, saying it's in violation of the city's social media policy.
But Eschert's attorney says the former fire investigator promptly took the statement down and the firing was really about Eschert complaining about working conditions.
"She made it on a private post and she took it down when she found out it was being circulated," said attorney Meg Maloney. Maloney points out that Eschert originally thought that the Ferguson police officer had shot a white man and took the post down as soon as she learned of her mistake.
The fire department shared the post with media:
"White guy shot by police yesterday near Ferguson…Where is Obama? Where is Holder? Where is Al Sharpton? Where are Trayvon Martins parents? Where are all the white guys supporters? So WHY is everyone MAKING it a racial issue?!? So tired of hearing it's a racial thing. If you are a thug and worthless to society, it's not race – You're just a waste no matter what religion, race or sex you are!"
Charlotte City Manager Ron Carlee says he thinks the firing was by the book. He's concerned about charges of retribution, however, so he's ordered an independent outside investigation of the whole affair.
At the same time the city hired a company to test the air and the working conditions at the arson task force headquarters, the Charlotte Fire Department is having problems with another building - a brand new one.
The contractor working on a new fire department headquarters at Statesville and North Graham is more than a year behind - with a glass contractor suing the general contractor over the project.
Cedar's Take: I might be alone on this idea but is seems just a little too convenient that a Facebook post saying pretty much what the Grand Jury said would be considered a violation of the departments social media policy. I've read the policy and it is way fast and loose with the rules and there are no clear limits, except to say that criticizing the department on social media is forbidden.
Cedar's Take Two: Not really sure what attorney Meg Maloney's spin effort is all about, but she needs to stop. The case stands on its own without spin. Eschert voiced her opinion and she shouldn't have been fired over it. Seems the department has a few bullies that should be shown the door. Do we need to start naming these people?
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