Patriotic firefighter told to repaint helmet

(Globe Staff Photo / John Bohn)

A veteran of the Iraq war, Richard Busa is used to fighting for the American flag. But never quite like this.

After more than three years rushing into fires with his signature red, white, and blue helmet, the Newton firefighter has been told to paint it black. Chief Joseph LaCroix says the patriotic decoration does not conform to department standards.

LaCroix, a veteran of the Vietnam War, said that his decision has nothing to do with the flag, but with how he wants his department to conduct business.

"We run a quasi-military operation here," LaCroix said in an interview yesterday. "You think people in the Marine Corps wake up for drills and say, 'I think I'm going to wear this shirt today even though everyone else is wearing that one'? Of course not."

Busa, 32, who has been in the department seven years, said he and his cousin decorated the helmet with heat resistant paint, the type used on grills, and it has refused to fade after numerous fires. He said he checked departmental rules before painting it, and found no prohibition against decorating the helmet.

"Firefighters are people of tradition and I wanted to alter one in a positive way," Busa said of his decision to give his helmet a patriotic theme. "I wanted to show my patriotism and show that the flag and what it stood for was tough enough to come with me in burning buildings."

The controversy surfaced in a column by Tom Mountain, who writes frequently for the Newton Tab. "Who would have the audacity, the indecency, to ask any fireman to remove the flag from his helmet? Where in America is such a place? Newton, Massachusetts," Mountain wrote in the column, which was posted on the Tab's blog earlier this week.

LaCroix said that the department allows small decorations on helmets such as shamrock stickers but that painting the entire helmet goes over the line.

"Where does it stop if we allow this?" LaCroix said. "What if someone wants to paint an Italian flag, or cartoon characters? We just can't give up our appearance of professionalism."

Last year, National Grid threatened some metal workers with suspension for pasting the US flag and other stickers on their hard hats, but backed off.

LaCroix and Newton's firefighters' union have long been at odds, with firefighters complaining about aging equipment and lengthy contract negotiations. Busa said he first heard that leadership had a problem with the helmet last month.

He said he believes the chief is creating a diversion to cover up other serious department problems.

"This is just an example of making a big thing out of little issues to make the public forget about big issues," Busa said, contending that firefighters have not been issued proper equipment.

Union President Tom Lopez agreed that the issue of the painted helmet has been blown out of proportion. "In the three years that [Busa] has worn that helmet, we haven't seen a rash of helmet painters," Lopez said. "There hasn't been one pink helmet yet, so this should be really low on our list of priorities."

LaCroix also said he hopes the issue will soon be resolved, but that it is in Busa's hands.

"This only has to go as far as he wants to push it," LaCroix said. "I hope he realizes that he needs to conform like everyone else. I don't think we are being out of the norm here, and it was no big secret when he joined that there were rules and regulations and he would need to abide by them. If he doesn't want to, then he can look for other options."

Busa said that he never wants to have to paint over the helmet, but admits that he might have to wear another one from now on.

"I really hope that I can keep wearing it," he said. "But I couldn't survive without getting paid, and this is my only source of income."

As of last night, the helmet remained at Fire Station No. 3 in Newton. And Busa was planning to go to work today.