DeKalb firefighter still on job after guilty plea to DUI

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A DeKalb County firefighter is still on the job after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Firefighter John D. Griffin Jr. will remain employed while Fire Chief Eddie O’Brien conducts an internal investigation, officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday.

“There has been conflicting information and he is trying to get beyond the conflicts before he reports back on what is going on,” said Shelia Edwards, a spokeswoman for county CEO Burrell Ellis.

DeKalb State Court Judge Janis Gordon sentenced Griffin on Tuesday to serve 12 months of probation, perform 64 hours of community service, participate in an alcohol treatment program and pay a $961 fine. He also had to surrender his driver’s license, according to court records obtained by the AJC.

Edwards said a current driver’s license is a job requirement for all positions.

DeKalb police stopped Griffin’s Pontiac on April 5 on the I-20 west ramp in Lithonia. A breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol level was .208, according to traffic citations. The law considers a person drunk at a blood alcohol level of .080 or higher.

Griffin, 28, was charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and failure to dim headlights.

Griffin was not on duty at the time of the arrest.

O'Brien plans to meet with Griffin and Public Safety Director William “Wiz” Miller before taking any disciplinary action, Edwards said.

Griffin’s lawyer, Linda Lyons, did not return two phone calls or an e-mail Wednesday.

Griffin joined DeKalb Fire in October 2002. He currently works at Station 2 on Dresden Drive in Atlanta, Edwards said.