The public information officer at the Athens-Clarke County Police Department was fired last week, apparently due to his ties with the former police chief.
Epifanio Rodriguez, the first public information officer for the agency, was served dismissal on October 10, according to interim police Chief Mike Hunsinger, who spoke with the Athens Banner-Herald. "Beyond that, I won’t make any statement," he told the paper.
The Banner-Herald reports that Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams said that it was Hunsinger's decision to fire Rodriguez. The police chief reports to the county manager.
On September 13, former chief Scott Freeman resigned. Rodriquez was placed on paid administrative leave while the circumstances of his hiring were investigated.
The paper said it appears Rodriguez's departure may be connected to Freeman's departure. Freeman led the department for only three years, but he was forced to step down due to poor management, high officer turnover, and dissatisfaction among department members.
The Banner-Herald acquired county personnel records that indicated there was a concern about the way Rodriguez was hired. Previously, Rodriquez was a public information officer for the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
The records show Freeman reportedly pressed the former lieutenant in command of the Office of Professional Standards to rescinding a "not recommended" decision regarding Rodriquez; apparently there were some indiscretions during his last polygraph exam.
Rodriquez, in a September 23 interview, said he admitted during the exam he stole change from a vehicle as a poor teenager so he could buy food and, he once spanked his young child in public because the child attempted to punch his wife. He also said during the hiring process he lied "once or twice" about being sick to get out work while employed at the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
