Misspelling on Corey Comperatore’s uniform tag existed before RNC
The “a“ is missing on Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore’s turnout gear. And according to Buffalo Township fire Chief Kip Johnston, it was a running joke at the department.
Comperatore was killed when gunman Thomas Crooks fired several shots into the crowd July 13 at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Connoquenessing Township. His turnout gear was brought out for Trump’s acceptance speech Thursday night during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Comperatore’s funeral was held Friday morning, as social media was abuzz with users wondering why his name was misspelled on the patch typically placed near the bottom of firefighting coats.
A quick look at any of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department’s social media or any of the local media coverage, however, shows Comperatore’s fire gear hanging outside the department’s Sarver Road station with the same misspelling.
Johnston confirmed that the uniform onstage Thursday night was Comperatore’s, and that fire officials worked with the Trump campaign to have it shipped to Milwaukee. He said it was expected to arrive back in Buffalo Township late Friday.
Johnston also said the fire gear supply companies which provide the name tags often have a 10-letter limit.
“Corey always knew it was misspelled,” Johnston said. “It was a running joke and he never cared.”
This story is published as part of a collaboration with Trib Live.
