WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — Lon Walls, Public Information Officer for D.C. Fire and EMS, was suspended for comments he made on social media website.

The suspension was handed down by Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe according to FOX 5.

The controversy began after Walls posted a link to a story regarding firefighters protesting a new schedule proposed by the chief. More than one hundred firefighters turned their back on the Chief and walked out the door after his State of the Department speech.

One commenter wrote: “A chief’s gotta do what a chief’s gotta do!”

Wall’s response: “True that. Unfortunately, the response depicted in the news story was the most blatant, ignorant and racist public display of disrespect I have ever seen.”

Wall has been suspended with pay.

Pedro Ribiero, a spokesman for D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said the suspension would allow time tensions to “cool off” according to the Washington Times.