North Georgia EMS employee fired after anti-protester Facebook comments

The Jackson County employee was fired after anti-protester Facebook comments, officials confirmed.

Credit: Carl Court

Credit: Carl Court

The Jackson County employee was fired after anti-protester Facebook comments, officials confirmed.

Jackson County officials confirmed that an emergency medical services training officer was fired due to his social media activity amid the ongoing protests.

County Manager Kevin Poe told AJC.com that John Pethel was fired Friday, a day after he was placed on leave due to anti-protester Facebook comments.

No other details on the posts were released by officials, but a Braselton-based news outlet alleges that the main comment in question was "Shoot them all," referring to protesters.

The comment was reportedly made on a post by the Gainesville Times, but Pethel appears to have deleted his Facebook account, meaning the comment is no longer visible.

“Mr. Pethel has been terminated from employment with Jackson County,” Poe said. “This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available at this time.”

This incident comes the same day as a Tallapoosa police officer was suspended due to a Facebook post, AJC.com previously reported. The department has not provided many details on that post either, but people in the community say it was also related to black protesters.

MORE: Georgia police officer suspended after public alerts department about Facebook post

— Please return to AJC.com for updates.

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