A Forsyth County deputy who patrolled traffic outside two elementary schools won’t be returning to either campus after an internal investigation found he repeatedly failed to show up for work and watched pornography on the job at least once, authorities said.
Records show former Deputy Todd Franklin was terminated from the sheriff’s office after an internal probe revealed a pattern of what his supervisors called “egregious” behavior.
The investigation was launched earlier this year after the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office received complaints from the school district that Franklin consistently failed to show up for his extra job directing traffic outside his assigned schools, records show. The names of the elementary schools were redacted in a copy of the investigation obtained by AJC.com.
That investigation found the former deputy billed taxpayers for three days that he never went to the schools. In addition, a search of Franklin’s county-issued cellphone uncovered an explicit exchange of photos and text messages between him and a woman with whom he was having an affair, authorities said.
According to sheriff’s office records, Franklin inappropriately used his work phone both on and off duty for at least six months leading up to his firing.
A review of his body camera footage also showed Franklin viewing adult videos and watching a “Star Wars” movie in his squad car while on duty, the sheriff’s office said. When questioned about the explicit video, Franklin reportedly told his supervisors he was investigating allegations that an underage girl was featured on the porn website.
”When someone acts as this former employee did, they lose their right to work alongside those deputies and employees who serve with such distinction and heroism daily,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The sheriff has made it expressly clear that unethical, illegal or immoral acts will lead to termination from this agency ... There is no room for this conduct here, and the men and women of FCSO, as well as our citizens, deserve better.”
According to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training records, the former deputy worked for the department since January 2014. He joined the sheriff’s office after voluntarily resigning from the DeKalb County Police Department, where he worked from 2008 to 2013, records show.
