DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Six DeKalb County firefighters have been disciplined in an alcohol investigation. Four of the firefighters have been demoted, including an assistant chief.
Channel 2's Jodie Fleischer attended a Tuesday news conference where acting Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien made the announcement.
"They didn't just let me down. They let everybody down," O'Brien said. "They know they did wrong."
As Channel 2 Action was first to report, several firefighters were accused of showing up to Fire Station 24 drunk during the Jan. 11 snowstorm. The group included fire apparatus operator William Corbett, Capt. Josh Reed and firefighter Joshua Crawford. The group went drinking at Twains Billiards and Tap in Decatur, according to the Fire Department's investigation. That night, they chose to sleep at the station on Redan Road instead of driving on icy roads for their shift the next day.
Though they were off-duty during the drinking, reports showed at least one of the firefighters went on two calls the next morning. Corbett's name is on the reports as the "officer in charge" at a car crash and a medical call between 7 and 8 a.m.
Documents Reveal Insight Into Investigation Of DeKalb Firefighters
Channel 2 obtained the interntal investigation that detailed the night. "On several occasions during the time at Twain's.. I downed a glass of beer in one gulp," Reed said in the report. The report said Reed was so drunk that his colleagues questioned if he would remember the night of drinking.
"I'm ashamed and embarrased by my actions of that night. I was way out of line and out of control," Reed explained in the report.
There is no evidence that any of the firefighters were drunk on duty, but they were not tested until hours later. Three have since admitted to drinking at the fire station, which is a violation of county policy.
Early in the investigation, sources told Fleischer that Assistant Chief Joe Tinsley and Deputy Chief William Smith were being looked at for their handling of the allegations. O'Brien said the two were cleared in the investigation but didn't elaborate further. Tinsley is among the four demoted, now ranked as captain. Smith chose to retire.
Two additional captains were disciplined for their handling of the allegations. One firefighter was suspended for 24 hours. Another received written counseling.
WSBTV
