A veteran Pointe Coupee Parish firefighter was fired last week for sharing a photo at a crash scene.

Firefighter/Paramedic David Jarreau, who has been with the department for three decades, is defending his actions.

"They were sweeping it under the rug. And so I got upset about it. So I took a picture, a single picture, of the truck upside down in the field for documentation purposes and for wherever this would go,” Jarreau told WAFB said.

On body camera, Pointe Coupee Sheriff's Department Sgt. Blake Devillier told the 18-year-old driver, who admitted to drinking beer, his goal was not to charge him with driving under the influence.

"I don’t know what I’m going to do just yet. What I don’t want to do is hit you with a DWI. So that is not my goal, OK. Because you were honest with me, you will suffer more from this than that,” Devillier told the teen.

Cans of Bud Light, Twisted Teas, Coronas, and Miller Lite, were found near the overturned truck.

Jarreau snapped a photo of the overturned truck and shared it with a person not affiliated with the department.

Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux, who called Devillier a model deputy, wrote a letter requesting the fire department investigate the veteran firefighter/paramedic.

Jarreau, who was fired for violating department policies, is investigating legal options. 

“I think the thing with me is I’m the first person who has the courage to step up and do something about it. And it put me on the radar, and I’m paying the price for it."

The sheriff said the teen was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless operation, and open container.