Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman said Friday three responders to a January 911 call to the home of a woman where they found Forsyth County sheriff Ted Paxton apparently drunk, may be disciplined for violating department policy by not filing a more complete report that could have identified the sheriff.
Bowman told the AJC Thursday he would not discipline the fireman for failing to fill out a detailed Patient Care Report after answering a 911 call from a woman who said an "elderly man," later identified as Sheriff Paxton, was apparently passed out across the stoop of her front door with at least one empty liquor bottle nearby.
He said they would not be disciplined “because they never made a misstatement” in talking to investigators. Bowman said he had not heard of the Paxton incident before he asked for the investigation last week.
On Friday a fire department spokesman said Bowman is taking a closer look at an Internal Affairs investigation he received two days ago and will decide on Monday what if any disciplinary action to take.
The Forsyth County sheriff says a female friend called 911 in January after finding him unconscious in the doorway of her home. In the 911 call, which has been posted on Youtube.com., alcohol were mentioned by the woman.
But firefighters said Sheriff Ted Paxton's vital signs were fine and that he didn't require medical attention, according to the findings of an internal investigation conducted by the county's fire department and obtained by the AJC. For that reason, they did not file a detailed Patient Care Report.
"We believe that he was only intoxicated due to our evaluation, his demeanor and actions while we were on scene," a lieutenant with the Forsyth County Fire Department states in the report.
Paxton, 59, declined several times to be transported to the hospital and appeared agitated at the woman for the 911 call, placed shortly before midnight Jan. 13, the report states.
The female caller declined to tell he 911 operator Paxton's name during the call and asks if the call can be kept quiet, according to 911 transcripts.
Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman said Thursday he requested the investigation last week because he was “not satisfied with the amount of information” in the summary of the 911 incident filed by three firefighters from Engine 8 who answered the January call.
Bowman said firefighters recognized the sheriff when they arrived at the home because "he's a well-known person." But Paxton did not identify himself by name, and the woman did not identify him, either. Nowhere in the internal investigation file or initial reports is Paxton identified by name.
“That’s not unusual if someone requests their name not be included,” Bowman said Thursday.
However, Paxton does identify himself in the updated report filed by Lt. Nathan Head included in the Internal Affairs investigation report. "Go ahead and tell all the papers your sheriff is drunk," Sheriff Paxton said to the responders at one point, according to the report. The report states the comment from Paxton was included "among other rants and apologies."
Paxton, who is in his third term as sheriff and is running for re-election, posted a statement regarding the incident on his Facebook page Thursday.
"I cannot comment on another department's investigation, and I will refer you to my previous statements on this issue," Paxton stated. "Sadly, this is a personal attack against me for petty political reasons, and I am more concerned and more interested in protecting and doing what is best for the citizens of Forsyth County."
In an earlier Facebook post, Paxton stated, "Subsequent medical evaluation revealed I was suffering from a blood sugar imbalance which caused the event."
The internal investigation, launched at Bowman’s request, is dated March 22 and written by Division Chief Kevin Wallace. Parts of the report were blacked out by County Attorney Ken Jarrard.
About the Author
