Female Firefighter Fired For Having A Head Tattoo — Despite Growing Out Her Hair To Hide It
By Sidra Lackey
Kay’Ana Adams, former firefighter from Mobile, Alabama, was fired last November after getting a head tattoo. Adams’ head tattoo is described as “spinal bones, flowers and hands mimicking 'The Creation of Adam’ ” according to The Daily Mail.
FireRescue1, reported Adams was “blindsided” by her firing because she grew her hair out to cover up her head tattoo. “Definitely blindsided, I never thought it would come to this, especially considering I was in compliance,” Adams said. “I’m not necessarily out here trying to be disobedient and I’m not breaking any laws or anything like that, it’s just a tattoo. What’s behind me shouldn’t affect the work that’s in front of me.”
Adams worked for the Mobile Fire Department, Maryvale station on Dauphin Island Parkway for nine months, when she got a tattoo on the back of her head in June 2022 that she didn’t believe violated department policy, which prohibits “tattoos on the face or neck,” WKRG News 5 reported. FireRescue1 detailed: a complaint was filed against Adams, and the MFD said she had the option to, “grow her hair out to cover the tattoo.”
“Somebody put in a complaint in regard to my tattoo, and the next thing I knew I was being investigated for it, interrogated behind it, and then they made their decision that I was in violation of policy,” Adams told WKRG. Weeks later, another complaint was made about Adams’ hair not being in compliance with the city’s policy, FireRescue1 reported. Soon after, MFD changed its tattoo policy, specifically prohibiting head tattoos. In November 2022, a captain at the MFD took a picture of the back of Adams’ head, which she says showed that her tattoo was no longer visible. Adams says she was fired the next day.
Adams told WKRG she believes her termination is also related to her speaking out during her time with the department about alleged sexist comments being made, and an incident that happened while she was undergoing training at the fire academy. During rope week, several people were discussing and attempting to tie nooses, Adams said, which prompted her to say something to the group. “Instinctively, I guess, I just kind of stood up and said, ‘You know, if you want to learn how to do that, I think that it’s best you do that on your free time,’ ” she said. She also confided in Captains Jason Craig and Rodrick Shoots about the incident. All three are members of the Black Progressive Firefighters Association. Both captains were disciplined for speaking out regarding Adams’ hair and head tattoo. Craig was suspended and Shoots was fired.
News 5 asked if any other currently serving Mobile firefighters had tattoos that violated department policy. “Yes,” said the Mobile City Spokesperson, explaining that at least one firefighter has a neck tattoo; he was not being terminated for policy violation, but, instead was being allowed to cover the tattoo until its required removal. Adams noted that new recruits were joining the department who had tattoos that seemed to violate the policy. “Hiring people before, during and after me with neck tattoos more prominent than mine was also kind of impactful in that as well,” Adams told WKRG. “I figured mine could be done in decency and order. I could also, based off the rules, cover it up.”
Since being fired, Adams has filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the Mobile Fire Department. Captain Shoots will appeal his termination during a hearing scheduled for January 17, 2023. Captain Craig will appeal his suspension during a hearing scheduled for January 19, 2023. Through a spokesperson, Mobile Fire Chief Jeremy Lami and Mayor Sandy Stimpson refused requests for on-camera interviews about the disciplinary actions taken against the three firefighters, saying, “these are personnel matters subject to litigation,” according to WKRG News 5.
Kay’Ana Adams remarked, about her head tattoo, “it’s just a tattoo.” She is correct. And at the time she got it, she was in compliance with the Mobile Fire Department’s tattoo policy. Her head tattoo should not have led to the tattoo policy being changed either. What does a head tattoo have to do with if she (or if it was a male firefighter who had the same one) could save someone during a fire? Hopefully Adams is able to continue on being a firefighter in another fire department where having a head tattoo (and a pretty badass one at that) doesn’t matter if she can do her job or not. Like she simply but powerfully said, “What’s behind me shouldn’t affect the work that’s in front of me.”