Alabama firefighter is terminated after she got tattoo of spinal bones, flowers and hands

An Alabama firefighter was fired for a tattoo on the back of his head and neck showing spinal bones, flowers and hands imitating ‘The Creation of Adam.’

Kay’Ana Adams had worked at the Mobile Fire Department’s Maryvale Station for nine months until someone filed a complaint about a new tattoo she had gotten in June. WKRG 5 reports.

Although Adams said she was aware the department had a policy against tattoos on the face or neck, she said other firefighters had more prominent ink than hers and noted her design would be easy to keep covered while in uniform.

“Next thing I knew, he was being investigated for it, questioned behind it, and then they made a decision that he was in violation of policy,” Adams said.

After a back-and-forth with the city, which included a complaint about her hair, which has become a hot topic about discrimination against blacks, Adams, a black woman, was finally fired.

The rookie firefighter said she was questioned about the tattoo, which she claimed was tamer than some of the inks other colleagues had. Adams was ultimately fired from her on November 10, but she claims she was fired from her for speaking out against the department.

She alleges she was fired not because of the tattoo, but for speaking out against the bullying and sexism she experienced as a trainee and a new recruit.

She had filed two complaints about instances in which male firefighters allegedly made inappropriate comments about “feminism and women’s rights.”

“Statements regarding, you know, ‘I don’t want to work with women,'” Adams told WKRG.

The former firefighter also noted that she once spoke at her training academy when a group of people in her class were discussing how to tie a rope.

When it came to the subject of her tattoo, Adams said Mobile officials gave her the option to grow her hair to ensure the tattoo was hidden.

She did just that, but weeks later a complaint was filed stating that her long hair was not in compliance with city policy.

“We have different hair textures,” Adams said of her race. ‘Then you have no idea how long it takes for my hair to grow.’

For the fall, the department updated its policy to now prohibit tattoos on the head above the neckline.

Adams said that on November 10, a captain at her station took a photo of the back of her head where the tattoo was no longer visible, but she was fired that same day.

She was fired just days before she was expected to get a response to the complaint about her hair.

“Definitely surprised, I never thought it would come to this, especially considering that it was compliant,” Adams told WKRG. I’m not necessarily here trying to be disobedient and I’m not breaking any laws or anything, it’s just a tattoo.

‘What’s behind me shouldn’t affect the work in front of me.’

While he was training, Adams said he found several people discussing how to tie a rope. Then, as a rookie, she filed two complaints against male firefighters for allegedly making sexist comments.

Adams claimed that she followed the city’s guideline to grow her hair to hide the tattoo.

But the city later updated its rules to ban all tattoos above the neckline.

The city confirmed in a statement that Adams was fired “for failing to meet Mobile Fire and Rescue Department (MFRD) standards.”

A city spokesperson told WKRG that at least one firefighter has a neck tattoo, but is allowed to cover the ink until it’s removed.

The MFRD did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

Adams noted that the two fire captains she sought help from, Jason Craig and Rodrick Shoots, also faced discipline for helping her.

All three are members of the Black Progressive Firefighters Association.

City officials said Shoots was fired for “attempting to obstruct a valid order from a superior officer, ignoring orders, and using disrespectful and defiant language toward a superior officer.”

Craig was suspended for 30 days for “insubordination, failure to follow orders from a superior officer, and failure to investigate, document, and report a violation of MFRD policy.”

Both Shoots and Craig have filed appeals, which are scheduled for the end of January.

Adams has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the fire department.