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Georgia Firefighters Demoted Over Lack Of Judgement In Alcohol Use
JENNIFER LESLIE
11Alive
Reprinted with Permission
Decatur, GA - Four DeKalb County firefighters have been demoted for drinking during the January ice storm, when metro Atlanta was under a state of emergency.
DeKalb Public Safety Director William Miller and Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien announce the results of an internal investigation of firefighters drinking during the January ice storm. (11Alive photo)
Related
An internal report released Tuesday shows a group of firefighters went out drinking on January 11, two nights into the snow and ice storm that paralyzed the county.
The report shows three firefighters left a bar and brought a 12-pack of beer to Fire Station 24 in Stone Mountain.
"They're all sincerely apologetic to the department, the county, the citizens," said Interim Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien. "They let me down and everybody down."
According to an internal investigation, Captain Marcus Reed admitted he drank too much.
"The initial events of meeting for dinner and consumer alcohol does not violate county policies," the report states. "Captain Reed's conduct became unbecoming and he began to violate policy when he became intoxicated to a point of making bad decisions, and not remembering specific events brings discredit upon his position."
The report shows fire apparatus operator William Corbett admitted that he had an open container inside the station, along with firefighter Joshua Crawford.
They were all off-duty at the time and said they went to the station to sleep it off.
"If a citizen had come into Station 24, they would not have differentiated between on-duty or off-duty status of these employees, and only would have associated that consuming alcohol on premises was unacceptable," the report states.
The report indicates there is no evidence they were intoxicated when they woke up and started their shifts the next morning, 8 hours later.
"While the firefighters did the right thing by reporting to work early, they did show a severe lack of judgement in going out and having alcoholic beverages, which compromised their ability to act in case they were needed during an emergency," said William Miller, DeKalb Director of Public Safety.
Asst. Chief Joseph Tinsley has also been demoted, after admitting he had a drink at the bar that night with the other disciplined firefighters.
Tinsley was actually exonerated in the internal investigation but punished by his superiors nonetheless.
The report shows there's no proof anyone went on a fire call while intoxicated.
The report shows two other employees, Captain Stevy Duke and Captain Allan Garcia, neglected their duties by failing to notify their chain-of-command and "act in a prompt manner to remedy policy violations."
11Alive
Reprinted with Permission
Decatur, GA - Four DeKalb County firefighters have been demoted for drinking during the January ice storm, when metro Atlanta was under a state of emergency.
DeKalb Public Safety Director William Miller and Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien announce the results of an internal investigation of firefighters drinking during the January ice storm. (11Alive photo)
Related
- Georgia Firefighters Accused Of Working, Responding While Intoxicated
- STATter911: Another Shake Up In DeKalb County, Georgia
An internal report released Tuesday shows a group of firefighters went out drinking on January 11, two nights into the snow and ice storm that paralyzed the county.
The report shows three firefighters left a bar and brought a 12-pack of beer to Fire Station 24 in Stone Mountain.
"They're all sincerely apologetic to the department, the county, the citizens," said Interim Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien. "They let me down and everybody down."
According to an internal investigation, Captain Marcus Reed admitted he drank too much.
"The initial events of meeting for dinner and consumer alcohol does not violate county policies," the report states. "Captain Reed's conduct became unbecoming and he began to violate policy when he became intoxicated to a point of making bad decisions, and not remembering specific events brings discredit upon his position."
The report shows fire apparatus operator William Corbett admitted that he had an open container inside the station, along with firefighter Joshua Crawford.
They were all off-duty at the time and said they went to the station to sleep it off.
"If a citizen had come into Station 24, they would not have differentiated between on-duty or off-duty status of these employees, and only would have associated that consuming alcohol on premises was unacceptable," the report states.
The report indicates there is no evidence they were intoxicated when they woke up and started their shifts the next morning, 8 hours later.
"While the firefighters did the right thing by reporting to work early, they did show a severe lack of judgement in going out and having alcoholic beverages, which compromised their ability to act in case they were needed during an emergency," said William Miller, DeKalb Director of Public Safety.
Asst. Chief Joseph Tinsley has also been demoted, after admitting he had a drink at the bar that night with the other disciplined firefighters.
Tinsley was actually exonerated in the internal investigation but punished by his superiors nonetheless.
The report shows there's no proof anyone went on a fire call while intoxicated.
The report shows two other employees, Captain Stevy Duke and Captain Allan Garcia, neglected their duties by failing to notify their chain-of-command and "act in a prompt manner to remedy policy violations."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Lyons on
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Um.... wow. Sleeping it off, I get that. Drinking at the station... don't get that, and if they were on duty... they should be fired... no 2nd chances on that.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Bond on
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Why are they even being given this second chance? Bringing beer to the House? We all know the basic rule about drinking alcohol , and hours of sobering up before duty, averages differ around the world, but most it's 8 (Eight) hours. Now even if they weren't on duty, and getting in their 8 hours of sleep... this was a time of weather emergency! There should have also been a DUI Sitation issued here. Right? Plus being so drunk that you admit personality change, and Public Intox at that! These are obviously not the caliber of men, and women I have worked beside. Drinking, and driving, or other lawless activities were an invitation to turn in your gear. There have been enough LODD's lately, and they could have easily wound up like other drunks they have ran on...DEAD. I'd rather have the LODD assign to my death, rather than stupid! Good luck to this Fire Juristiction, their decesion was as poor as the Accused.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I disagree with the sentiment about "no second chances". It was a poor choice, but the FF's were off duty at the time. These guys could have had good work records up to this point and that should account for something, there is no reason to toss someone to the curb at every poor decision. Also, unless there is a specified rule, there really isn't anything out there saying that one has to stop drinking 8 hours prior to going to work. Everyone will metabolize alcohol at a different rate and one could still have a drink a few hours from work and could be out of their system.
Yes, it was a bad decision to bring alcohol back to the firehouse. Chances are they knew they had to be at work and knew roads would be bad, so have a few suds and sleep at the station. Well, sleeping at the station part is fine, in fact I know co-workers who drank too much and instead of driving, walked to the station and crashed there. The big issue is the fact they were drinking in the firehouse.
Drinking and driving? Don't see any mention of them driving. For all we know they could have taken a cab, or carpooled with said driver not drinking until back at the station. Point being why cast judgement if everything isn't known.
The report shows there's no proof anyone went on a fire call while intoxicated.
And hence the reason the personnel deserve a second chance.
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Permalink Reply by Hawk on
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Wow, seriously, you guys must be the most honest law abiding citizens of the world. I want to have you for neighbors so I can leave my garage open at night. Way to jump on the 'no common sense' PC wagon with the rest of the nation. Thanks John for actually looking at the facts in the story before casting judgment.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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When a person sees firefighting as a *calling* (you know, like divine, directed by angels) then anything that tarnishes the holy cloth of PPE is immediately condemned. Rush to judgment is really divine inspiration.
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AaaaAAAAaaaaAAAAAaaaahhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeen...
(my best Catholic, long drawn out, bad movie parody 'amen')
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I agree on some of that... IF they were not on duty. I am ok with someone crashing at the firehouse if they have too much to drink, I would prefer it to driving... but if anyone was on the clock, absolutely not.
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Permalink Reply by Jim on
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I think it was poor judgement to bring beer into the fire station. I do not know of any department in Georgia that does not clearly state in policy that alcoholic drinks are prohibited on station property.
Based solely on the information in the news article. I do not understand demoting Cheif Tinsley.
Finally, Federal Labor Law mandates that the firefighters who showed up eight hours early for work. They have to be paid for those eight hours. Its a stupid law but it is the Law none the less.
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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
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wow....
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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on
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Unfortunately, there are countless Firehouses in this country where alcohol is being consumed by off and on duty members. This is not a new thing and some departments may not even consider it to be news worthy. Departments of varying sizes and make ups from small volunteer houses to some of the biggest departments in this country all have members who consume alcohol or even worse while on duty.
This is an eye opener for me as an Officer because in the past, I have allowed off duty members who were intoxicated to sleep it off at the Firehouse and made it blatently clear to them not to respond with us for any reason. After hearing about the discipline handed out to the Officers, it all became clear to me.
In no way am I condoning such actions and as Officers we have to make better choices to protect our members and the integrity of the Fire Service.
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Permalink Reply by Harvey Harper on
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Hopefully these guys walked to the station and didn't drive. I agree no alcohol in the fire house, but who took it in, all of them, or just one guy. Demotion is a pretty serious discipline for having a few beers and going to the fire house and sacking out unless policy clearly states this can not be done. Has anyone ever heard of a written reprimand? Whoever broght the beer into the firehouse has no excuses but the other guys are not deserving of this kind od punishment, especially the AC who just had a drink at the bar. These guys are human not robots, thank God, and will make mistakes just like everyone else. Don't execute them for a misdemeanor.
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I don't condone alcohol consumption in the station ever, if a citizen or councilperson were to walk in-it would just be bad no matter what, there is no explanation.
Shareef, I applaud you for taking care of your crew when they needed to sleep it off. Please don't change your attitude because of another city going overboard. I've seen great officers cower down over petty things like this, they begin to snowball one after the other and next thing you know the officer is scared of his own shadow, runs from any fight against admin and throws his own crew under the bus to save his own butt. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about taking a bullet for your guy after he robs a bank but I've seen a Captain put an anonymous letter under a chiefs door ratting out his tailboard for calling in sick and going to a wedding.
Does this makes any sense?
I whole hardheartedly agree with Harvey down here, why aren't we freaking out that this "interim chief" is demoting all these guys, one guy for having a beer OFF DUTY!!! Sounds like the interim chief is looking to be The new chief kissing the city manager & the news crews butt!!
"Asst. Chief Joseph Tinsley has also been demoted, after admitting he had a drink at the bar that night with the other disciplined firefighters. Tinsley was actually exonerated in the internal investigation but punished by his superiors nonetheless." WHAT?!?! Most of these guys need to call their lawyers & the international!!
What is happening to us?!?!
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