Chad Dyer is out as Cornelia City Fire Chief after allegedly showing up drunk to a fire Tuesday at Ethicon.
Dyer responded to the scene in his city-issued vehicle, according to the arrest report from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. In that report, Deputy Brandon Holcomb says when he encountered Chief Dyer at the scene he noticed his eyes were blood shot, sleepy, and watery. He says he smelled alcohol on Dyer’s breath.
Holcomb says Dyer’s vehicle was parked in front of his patrol car in the parking lot. There was a passenger in Dyer’s truck who, at one point, Dyer indicated had driven him there. However, dash cam video reportedly captured Dyer exiting the vehicle from the driver side when he arrived.
Dyer was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, according to the report. He was charged and booked for DUI after a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol level was .144, well above the legal limit of .08.
Dyer was released from jail Wednesday morning on $1,500 bond. He resigned his position as Cornelia fire chief shortly after.
An abrupt end to 23 years of “exemplary service”
Cornelia City Manager Donald Anderson says Assistant Fire Chief Billy Jenkins was named interim chief. He’ll serve until a permanent successor is hired.
Dyer was promoted to fire chief in June of last year. Before that he served as assistant chief.
Dyer was only the second fire chief Cornelia has had this century. He succeeded Frankie Smith who held the job for 40 years.
“In his 23 plus years of exemplary service to the city there have been no disciplinary incidents,” Anderson says of Dyer.
Anderson says the city will begin its search for a new fire chief next week. The position will be advertised locally and statewide.
