A viral TikTok video claiming to show a Stockton firefighter making racist comments has sparked outrage online, but local officials have confirmed that the individual involved is not affiliated with the Stockton Fire Department.
The video, shared by the TikTok user tizzyent, shows a man in a firefighter's shirt, purportedly from Station 8, making offensive remarks toward someone in a car. However, Stockton firefighters quickly clarified that the man in the video is not one of their own. In fact, there is no Station 8 in Stockton.
Mario Gardea, president of the Stockton Professional Firefighters, stated that the union conducted an internal investigation as soon as they became aware of the video. "We confirmed it's not one of our firefighters, whether current, retired, or auxiliary," Gardea said. He added that the video has led to online harassment of several Stockton firefighters who were mistakenly identified as the man in the video.
On Sunday evening, the Alameda County Fire Department confirmed that the individual in the video is one of their firefighters. Alameda County Fire Chief William McDonald issued a statement addressing the incident: "Our department is committed to gathering all the facts, and we are addressing this situation in a manner that reflects our dedication to integrity, professionalism, and community trust."
The incident has raised concerns about the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly online, leading to unintended consequences for those wrongly identified. Stockton firefighters emphasized that they do not condone the comments made in the video and remain committed to serving the community with respect and professionalism.
For those interested, the full video can be viewed on TikTok under the user tizzyent.