Firefighter suspended for saying he'd rather 'save a dog before a black man'

A volunteer firefighter was suspended indefinitely without pay Tuesday after he wrote on Facebook that he would rather save a dog than a black man.

Tyler Roysdon, 20, was informed on Tuesday that he was suspended from the Ohio Franklin Township fire department for stating that he would rather save a dog from a burning building than an African American.

Roysdon wrote on his Facebook page that "one dog is more important than a million n*****s."

Tyler Roysdon was informed on that he was suspended for writing on Facebook that he would rather save a dog from a burning building than a black man. Photo / Facebook

A screenshot of the post was captured by Fox19 TV.

When the offensive post was brought to the attention of Township officials, they said it was "unacceptable" and removed Roysdon from his position.

Roysdon deleted the racist post from his Facebook account, the MailOnline reported.

Roysdon wrote on his Facebook page that 'one dog is more important than a million n*****s'. Photo / Facebook

Township Administrator Traci Stivers released a statement which read: "Fire Chief Steve Bishop immediately contacted the firefighter and directed the comments be removed."

Roysdon's wife, Joei Frame Roysdon, took to Facebook and defended her husband.

"Everyone deserves a second chance and is also entitled to their own opinion," she wrote, adding that her husband realized that the comments were inappropriate.

Tyler Roysdon's suspension is indefinite, and he will face a disciplinary hearing before the Board of Trustees.

The fire chief, Bishop, took the most severe action against Roysdon.

Roysdon's wife, Joei Frame Roysdon, took to Facebook and defended her husband. Photo / Facebook

By law, only the board is permitted to terminate his employment, not the fire chief, according to WHIO-TV.

"This is not acceptable behavior for a township employee," Stivers said in the statement.

"'As a rule all employees are given a closed-door disciplinary hearing that gives them a chance to provide witnesses or evidence providing their innocence."

The township has set a date for September 27, when the Board of Trustees will vote on Roysdon's future at the fire department.

Roysdon is officially accused of conduct unbecoming a township employee. He will have an opportunity to respond to the allegation and - if he so chooses - to call witnesses on his behalf.

The board's president, Brian Morris, said he learned of the incident before this past Wednesday's weekly meeting.

"[Roysdon] blatantly said on social media that he wouldn't do that," Morris said.

"Even if you take race out of it, it still would be wrong. I'm disgusted in what he said.

"There is no reason for him to say that anytime, anywhere...That should never be said."

Morris says the comments do not reflect the prevailing attitudes in Franklin Township, which lies about 15 miles northeast of Akron.

"I want people to realise this is only one man's comment," Morris said.

"We have a great group of men (firefighters) and disgusting comments from one individual does not represent the entire fire department."