The state Civil Service Commission has overturned the termination of a Rockland firefighter, but the town disagrees with the decision and is appealing.
Lieutenant Craig Erickson had his employment terminated with the town in 2017. He was hired as a full-time firefighter in 1986 and was the only African-American member of the department.
Erickson appealed his termination, which was allowed in part by the Civil Service Commission. The commission found that he worked for two other employers while out on sick leave for the department.
Erickson says he has been treated unfairly by the department.
“Rockland’s upper leadership is a cesspool of nepotism and has a history of racial bias. I have dealt with institutional racism for 38 years in the fire department. Rockland Town Counsel, Attorney John Clifford, has made a fortune off of me since 2012,” said Erickson. “Rockland refuses to provide Attorney Clifford’s billable invoices with specific regard to my Freedom of Information Act request.”
Town Counsel John Clifford says Erickson has filed numerous unsuccessful actions against the town.
“He’s never provided one factual allegation of racism or illegal bias against the town,” said Clifford. “We don’t think the Civil Service findings are credible either.”
Clifford says the primary reason the town is appealing the Civil Service decision is they consider it unlawful. He said since 2013, Erickson received seven formal reprimands and was suspended in 2017.
“Mr. Erickson had a long and documented history of disciplinary action, none of which was overturned, prior to last year’s decision from the Civil Service Commission,” said Clifford. “The town feels that his termination, which was based on payroll fraud, sick leave abuse, and insubordination was more than justified.”
Erickson has filed a lawsuit against the town in the U.S. District Court in Boston.
