An Atlantic City firefighter filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and the department’s chief and deputy chief after learning he would be suspended without pay unless he shaved his beard, which he has grown out for religious reasons.
Alexander Smith, who has worked for the fire department for more than 15 years and makes $115,000 a year as an air mask technician, is a born-again Christian who began growing out his beard in December as an expression of his faith, according to a lawsuit filed last week.
Smith reached out to the city for an accommodation Jan. 3 to keep his 3-inch beard, according to the lawsuit, because the Atlantic City fire department guidelines state “beards and goatees of any type are specifically prohibited.” Facial hair can affect the seal of the breathing apparatus mask firefighters wear while battling blazes.