By Chuck Williams
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
COLUMBUS, Ga. — A Columbus deputy fire chief said Tuesday that he did not disclose the fact that a firefighter tested positive for cocaine after wrecking a city emergency truck because “we didn’t want it spread through the department.”
Deputy Chief David Starling, interviewed by the Ledger-Enquirer, said he made the decision to keep the fact that Zachary Allen failed a drug test after last year’s wreck off an internal investigative report. Allen is the son of Columbus Councilor Gary Allen and grandson of former Mayor J.R. Allen.
“We didn’t tell any employees because we didn’t want it to get out,” Starling said. “I decided not to put it on any report.”
Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Jeff Meyer responded: “Those statements by David are not 100 percent accurate. That investigative report was only an accident report.” Meyer said his department followed policy except for a mistake made by a sergeant who investigated the Nov. 28, 2006, wreck.
Starling, Meyer and Battalion Chief Eddie Hall, who has since retired, knew that Allen failed a drug test the night it happened.
One of the employees who was not told was Sgt. Monica Carstarphen, a substitute arson investigator who conducted the internal investigation. She did not learn of the positive drug test until she was told recently by a Ledger-Enquirer reporter. She also did not know that Allen had been suspended two hours after the wreck when Hall was told of a “non-negative” test by Occupational Medicine of Columbus.
Official notification of the failed test was received two days after the wreck.
Carstarphen was left out of the loop because Allen’s positive drug test was considered medical information and should have been kept private, Meyer said Tuesday afternoon.
“We keep medical information where the least people know,” Meyer said. “It is better off for the employee that way.”
He said Carstarphen’s charge was to prepare an accident report.
Meyer said the hard copy of the positive drug report was on file with the city’s Human Resources department. He said the proper policy was followed.
Carstarphen’s first report stated: “The results of the alcohol and drug test were negative.”
That report was on file with Risk Management, the department that handles financial claims filed against the city, when City Manager Isaiah Hugley got a call at home informing him of the positive test. He said he called Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin to ask about the report. Goodwin then contacted Meyer, who came to the city manager’s office and later submitted a second report.
That report, prepared by Carstarphen, stated: “A written statement was taken from FF Z. Allen, and he was taken for an alcohol and drug screening.” There was no mention of the positive drug test in the second report.
The initial report had the signatures of then-Fire Marshal Greg Lang and Starling, who said Tuesday he signed off on the second report, too.
Carstarphen was “counseled” by Meyer on Dec. 15, 2006, and notice of that session was placed in her personnel file that day.
In the counseling report with Carstarphen, Meyer described the problem area: “While completing a vehicle accident investigative report the employee documented information that was not verifiable.”
Carstarphen admitted to Meyer she made a mistake in assuming Allen’s drug test was negative.
Mayor: “No excuse”
Tuesday, Mayor Jim Wetherington addressed Columbus Council about the situation, saying “there is no excuse acceptable for the mistakes made in processing the information from the drug test.” Wetherington, in a mostly prepared statement at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, said he has instructed Hugley to provide Police Chief Ricky Boren a copy of the positive drug test. Boren has been instructed to have the information added to a supplemental report on the Nov. 28, 2006, wreck.
The police department was never notified of Allen’s positive drug test. Normally, individuals involved in an accident who test positive for drugs are charged with DUI drugs. Zachary Allen has not been charged.
This comes a day after Wetherington said he did not believe Allen would be charged on a DUI drugs charge.
Several councilors said Tuesday that the investigation should be thorough and quick.
Councilor Jerry “Pops” Barnes, who like Wetherington was not in office at the time of the firefighter’s wreck, said the mayor in addressing this situation “has his hands full.”
Asked after the meeting if Meyer should face discipline, Barnes responded: “I don’t want to approach that subject. The mayor will do what has to be done.”
Councilor Wayne Anthony, a human resources professional, said he wanted a thorough investigation to see if policies and procedures were followed.
“If we find they have not, then appropriate disciplinary action will be taken at all levels,” Anthony said.
Copyright 2007 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
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