Three Jackson firefighters accused of working under the influence of alcohol have been placed on administrative leave.
Officials are investigating after the first responders, while on-duty over the weekend, allegedly consumed alcoholic beverages at an unidentified downtown Jackson establishment. The firefighters were subsequently dispatched to a fire at a blighted property, per officials.
After the firefighters responded to the scene, law enforcement was called, sobriety testing was administered, and the firefighters were found to be in violation of departmental policy, Jackson Fire Chief Rasean Thomas confirmed.
“The conduct described in this incident is unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards we demand of every member of this department,” Thomas said. “The safety of Jackson residents is our highest obligation, and any behavior that compromises that obligation will not be tolerated.”
Jackson Mayor John Horhn added that administration will neither tolerate nor condone a “culture of misconduct” within any city department. The mayor noted that he has called on Thomas to crack down on the fire department’s alcohol policy.
“We are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness,” Horhn said. “I have directed Chief Thomas to strengthen the department’s alcohol policy and institute more rigorous enforcement procedures to ensure an incident of this nature does not occur again.”
At this time, the names of the firefighters allegedly involved in the incident have not been released by officials.
