{"id":63380,"date":"2018-04-18T05:21:25","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T05:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=63380"},"modified":"2018-04-18T05:21:25","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T05:21:25","slug":"city-employee-supervisor-placed-on-leave-over-military-flags-flap-in-jacksonville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/city-employee-supervisor-placed-on-leave-over-military-flags-flap-in-jacksonville.html","title":{"rendered":"City employee, supervisor placed on leave over military flags flap in Jacksonville"},"content":{"rendered":"

City employee, supervisor placed on leave over military flags flap in Jacksonville<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a petition is posted on change.org demanding a Jacksonville city inspector be fired for citing a Westside store for flying military flags, Mayor Lenny Curry has put her on administrative leave after video of her finger-wagging confrontation with employees and a veteran went viral.<\/span><\/p>\n

Curry also has ordered a review of the employee\u2019s actions as he rescinded the citation she wrote for flying them on either side of American flags at Jaguar Power Sports, a motorcycle dealership at 4680 Blanding Blvd.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mayor\u2019s City Hall statement said the employee\u2019s supervisor is also on leave following the Monday citation and subsequent argument with staff as well as a customer, a military veteran who was apparently told \u201cyou did nothing for our country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe flags can fly,\u201d confirmed city spokeswoman Tia Ford, after Curry\u2019s statement offered apologies to the customer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEmployees of the City of Jacksonville are the servants of taxpayers who have a duty to enforce our laws and regulations. I expect every one of them to do that job in a manner that is respectful and reflects the privilege we all have to serve this great city,\u201d Curry\u2019s statement said in part. \u201cWhat I saw reported is 100 percent inconsistent with how I expect every city employee to interact with our citizens. I have ordered a review of the actions of the employee and pending the completion of that review, the employee and her supervisor have been placed on leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

News of the confrontation in the store surfaced when its manager, Shaun Jackrel, posted a video explaining what happened when city inspector Melinda Power came in to discuss another issue with him. Then she issued a warning for the number of flags flying above the entrance: twin American flags flanked by others representing different branches of the U.S. military. Power wrote down that the flag violation fell under the city code for zoning limitations on signs, according to Times-Union media partner WJCT-FM.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackrel sounds like he can\u2019t believe what was just handed to him on his video post.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, we just got a ticket … for flying military flags,\u201d Jackrel said. \u201d… They told us to take them down or go to court over it. Are you serious right now?\u201dc<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackrel also said Power was rude to one of the customers, a veteran who said he had been shot in battle, then was told he \u201cdid nothing for our country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When city officials learned of the citation, Chief of Staff Brian Hughes said they were reviewing the facts of the case as well as ordinances regarding flags and signs, according to First Coast News, another Times-Union media partner. Hughes also noted that the Mayor\u2019s Office was in communication with the business. About eight hours after the initial post, Jaguar Power Sports posted another video on its Facebook announcing that the flags can stay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am so amazed at the amount of support … ,\u201d said Marcy Moyer, another manager. \u201cThank you so much for understanding that we are trying to accomplish something here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that news, there were still about 500 supporters for a change.org petition demanding \u201cFire Melinda Power, Now!! Support our Troops & Veterans, with the freedom to fly our flags.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis behavior is un-American and a disgrace to treat the men and women who serve our country, who give their lives,\u201d the petition reads in part. \u201cWe as Americans have the right to show our pride by flying as many flags as we wish, it\u2019s our first amendment right!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaguar Power Sports has also begun a T-shirt fundraiser in response to the support it has received since the citation incident, posted on its Facebook page at facebook.com\/jaguarpowersport.<\/span><\/p>\n

The company\u2019s Facebook post thanks the support it has received nationwide while saying city officials are working to \u201cmake sure things like this does not happen again.\u201d It thanks the mayor for his help, saying it will make a custom shirt, with all sales proceeds to help the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association at fl2.combatvet.org.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-http:\/\/www.jacksonville.com\/news\/20180417\/city-employee-supervisor-placed-on-leave-over-military-flags-flap-in-jacksonville<\/span><\/p>\n

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