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Sept. 28--Although the deadline is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins to rule on disciplinary action related to a firehouse hazing prank, the ruling won't be handed down until Thursday.
Mayoral spokesman Clay Murphey said "some things came up" that have caused the delay. He said he didn't know details of what had happened, but he said the decision won't be released until Thursday.
Riggins has recommended firing one firefighter, and his other punishments range from a demotion to 10 days of suspension. City officials said last week that supervisors' punishments in the case were less severe because they had no prior knowledge of the hoax.
Firefighters met with Riggins Monday for "due process" hearings during which they had the opportunity to present new evidence or argue why their punishment should be changed.
Neither city nor fire officials have released information regarding what transpired during the hearings.
A video of the prank posted on the online site YouTube, titled "Rookie Prank," showed a masked gunman inside the Peake Road fire station brandishing a gun. At one point in the video, the man snatches a firefighter and drags him off screen, followed soon by what sounds like a gunshot.
On Friday, The Telegraph viewed a longer version of the prank video, which showed one supervisor, Capt. Stephanie Burke, gathering with other firefighters after the prank had ended and laughing with them. Riggins has said her reaction did not necessarily mean that she knew about the prank before it happened.
