Largo Firefighter Brandon Stofell on Leave Amid Investigation into 'No Kings' Rally Behavior

Investigation into Firefighter's Conduct

• 🚒 Brandon Stofell, a Largo firefighter, has been placed on administrative leave following an investigation into his alleged behavior at a 'No Kings' rally.
• 📢 The investigation stems from allegations of harassment and hate speech during the rally, which saw thousands of attendees.

Witness Accounts of Rally Behavior

• 🗣️ Attendees reported that a group, including Stofell and a friend, arrived after a mostly peaceful protest and began yelling derogatory names and attempting to provoke fights.
• 😠 Witnesses described feeling threatened by the anger and aggressive behavior of this group.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Concerns were raised about whether Stofell's personal beliefs could affect his professional duties, specifically questioning if he would provide services impartially to individuals from marginalized communities.

Official Response and Stance

• 🏛️ The City of Largo and the Fire Rescue Department acknowledged the video and stated they are taking the matter seriously, actively investigating with city leadership.
• ✅ The city is committed to upholding integrity, equity, and professionalism as a public service organization.
• ⚖️ Largo Fire Rescue is following due process to ensure accountability while Stofell remains on administrative leave.
• 🤐 Brandon Stofell declined to comment when approached for a statement through his friend.