One Fired, Others Disciplined Over Georgia 'Prank' Video

One Macon-Bibb County firefighter will be suspended for five days with pay pending termination for his role in a firehouse prank caught on video that showed a masked man threatening firefighters with what appeared to be a gun.

One fire sergeant will be demoted to private, and four other firefighters will be suspended for varying amounts of time without pay.

In all, eight firefighters have been disciplined in connection with the Sunday prank at the Peake Road firehouse.

Credits at the end of the video posted on YouTube on Sunday list five names. Three additional firefighters also have been disciplined.

Two rookie firefighters present at the station weren't aware the incident was a prank, Chief Marvin Riggins has said.

Mayoral spokesman Clay Murphey characterized Christopher Hughes, the firefighter suspended for five days pending termination, as the firefighter who appeared to be "the mastermind" behind the prank.

He brought to work the object that appeared to be a gun, Murphey said.

Hughes violated fire department policies prohibiting hazing and "the use of personal items on the premises which may create a hazard to other firefighters," according to a statement issued by Riggins Wednesday.

Murphey said fire Sgt. Joshua Brewer provided the camera that captured the prank on video.

Brewer, also found to be in violation of the department's anti-hazing policy, will be demoted and issued a 10-day suspension, according to the chief's statement.

A 10-day suspension is equal to 30 days without pay, according to a news release accompanying the statement.

Murphey said he didn't know who supplied a firecracker heard on the video.

The city of Macon has an appeals process that allows employees to appeal discipline imposed through their department head and the personnel director. A hearing may be held before an administrative law judge. The judge's hearing can then be appealed to the mayor, according to the news release.

Personnel files show that Hughes, the firefighter suspended for five days pending termination, already had been suspended three times since his hiring in 2005.

Hughes, 28, was suspended for three days in August 2009 on charges he violated city policy regarding "criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral or notoriously disgraceful conduct or other conduct prejudicial to the city," according to a disciplinary action notice in his personnel file.

In August 2010, Hughes was suspended for one day on a charge of excessive tardiness, according to his file.

A letter dated March 16, 2011, indicates Hughes was cited for driving under the influence on Dec. 22, 2010, and was issued a temporary driver's permit for commuting to and from work. He was stopped for another traffic violation March 15, 2011, and was found to be driving without a driver's license.

A valid driver's license is a condition of employment at the fire department, and Hughes was relieved of duty until his March 24 court date, according to the letter.

Brewer's file also included notice of a one-day suspension dated Nov. 2, 2010, on a charge of excessive tardiness.

Brewer, 30, was promoted May 2011 after being hired in May 2005.

Firefighters Christopher Houston, Mark Swain and Jesse White also will be suspended for 10 days in connection with the prank and violations of the department's hazing policy.

Swain, 34, was hired in 1999; and White, 28, was hired in 2009, according to personnel records. Neither man's record included notices of prior discipline.

Houston's hiring and personnel information was not immediately available Wednesday night.

Lt. Timothy Pruitt, Capt. Stephanie Burke and Battalion Chief James Wallace also will be disciplined, according to Riggins' statement.

Murphey said the three supervisors are being punished because it's their responsibility to manage the firefighters involved in the prank.

"They had nothing to do with (the prank)," he said.

Burke, although seen in the video, didn't have previous knowledge of the prank, Murphey said.

Pruitt will be issued a counseling statement relating to the management and behavior of his firefighters. Burke will receive a two-day suspension equal to a week without pay, and Wallace will be issued a written reprimand.

Burke, 48, was hired in 1986 and promoted to captain in 2006. Wallace, 55, was hired in 1978 and promoted to battalion chief in 2008, according to personnel records.

Records for Pruitt were not immediately available Wednesday night.

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office has completed its investigation into the prank and has passed on its findings to the fire department, Sheriff Jerry Modena said Wednesday.

There's no indication a Macon police officer or Bibb deputy was involved in the prank, Modena said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service