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Firefighter’s Flag to Stay Put

Krapf will be allowed back to work Thursday

By Danielle Johnson

| Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 | Updated 12:00 PM EDT

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James Krapf will be allowed to return to work and display his flag on his locker door.

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Firefighter Says He'd Do It Again

Chester firefighter James Krapf says he'd stand up against the department again to fly or stick the American flag on his locker.

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Firefighter Says
He'd Do It Again

Protesters Wave Flag of Support

Protesters rally in support of Chester County firefighter James Krapf after his suspension.

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Protesters Wave
Flag of Support

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A Chester City firefighter who was suspended for displaying an American flag sticker on the front of his locker will not have to remove the decal and he gets to keep his job.

After two hours of negotiations, fire and union officials reached a resolution Monday afternoon to reinstate James Krapf and allowed him to display the red, white and blue on his locker.

"I am glad to be back and ready to go back to doing my job," said Krapf.

Krapf was suspended last week, without pay, after disobeying an order from Chester City Fire Commissioner James Johnson to remove the American flag from his locker. A department policy prohibited firefighters from posting personal items on lockers after a recent poster was found to be offensive.

"There was never an intent to desecrate the American flag," said Fire Commissioner James Johnson during a press conference.

More than 25 protesters showed up for a rally in support of Krapf outside the firehouse on East 14th Street Monday morning.

Krapf said he expects to be reimbursed for a day and a half in back pay.

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