A DeKalb County Police sergeant was fired last month for, among other things, having sex with a subordinate and taking "inappropriate" pictures with a county-issued cell phone.
DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parish told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Sgt. D.A. Thomas was terminated for a bevy of policy violations including lying to superiors, improper use of county equipment, traveling outside of the county without knowledge and permission of his supervisor while on duty, and neglect of duty.
“This all stemmed from an internal investigation that centered around a relationship that it appeared Sgt. Thomas had with a subordinate,” Parish said.
“The charges that we were able to [substantiate] centered around fraternization in a relationship that he had with a subordinate.”
No disciplinary action has been taken against the woman in the relationship, who has not been identified by police.
An anonymous tip alerted police leaders of alleged misconduct, and Thomas allegedly lied to his superiors when questioned, Parish said.
"They believe he left the county at least one time while on duty to visit her," she said.
When authorities demanded he turn over his phone, however, a subsequent search revealed photos of the woman that Parish described simply as “inappropriate.”
“When you are a supervisor, there is that level of responsibility and authority that you have over individuals,” she said. “When you venture outside of that professional relationship with individuals that misconduct can occur.”
Thomas was a narcotics sergeant.
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