Brookline fires firefighter accused of beating homeless man with fists, burrito
Joseph Ward faces charges of assault and battery.
A Brookline firefighter who was charged with beating a homeless man at an Anna’s Taqueria was fired by the town Board of Selectman on Wednesday, the Boston Herald reports.
Police say Joseph Ward, who had worked with the Brookline Fire Department for about 10 years, punched a homeless man in the face five to seven times, threw a glass bottle and burrito at him, and kicked him because the man was taking too long to order food last week. Ward also allegedly called the man a “homeless [expletive],’’ according to a police report.
Ward was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon last week. He has pleaded not guilty, and the Brookline firefighter’s union said they would appeal the termination.
The Board of Selectman also voted to terminate another Brookline firefighter, Jeremy Joseph, who was charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident in a separate incident last week. A not-guilty plea was entered for him, The Boston Globe reports.
“Terminating career employees is one of the most difficult actions a selectman can take, but in these cases the actions of the employees were egregious, violating the rules and regulations of the fire department and damaging the reputation and credibility of the fire department and the town,’’ Brookline officials said in a statement.
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