POLK CITY, IOWA — A former Polk City paramedic has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, alleging she was wrongfully terminated for constitutionally protected speech after posting critical comments online about conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his killing earlier this year.
Alissa Furry, a state-licensed paramedic with an otherwise exemplary employment record, sued Polk City and two senior officials in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The complaint argues the city violated her First Amendment rights by firing her over off-duty social media posts made as a private citizen on a matter of public concern.
According to the lawsuit, Furry had never been disciplined and had received multiple awards, including Medic of the Year and several Lifesaving Awards. The dispute centers on Facebook posts she briefly shared on Sept. 10, 2025, referencing Kirk’s past remarks minimizing gun violence in defense of the Second Amendment. Furry deleted at least one post within minutes and later shared additional commentary critical of public praise for Kirk while noting concern for students injured in a school shooting the same day.
The suit alleges city officials acted based on political disagreement rather than any demonstrated workplace disruption. It also claims male city employees made political or derogatory posts without facing discipline, raising potential equal treatment concerns.
Furry is seeking damages, reinstatement, and a court order finding that her termination constituted unlawful retaliation. The city has not yet responded.
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