Peachtree City firefighter/EMT Kevin Bernard McMullen had his employment with the city terminated Jan. 13 after reportedly showing up at work while under the influence of alcohol on Jan. 11. McMullen did not exercise his ability to appeal the Jan. 13 decision.
McMullen was hired while his father, Bernard McMullen, was city manager. The elder McMullen left the city’s employ last month.
McMullen was charged with DUI alcohol by Peachtree City Police on the morning of Jan. 11.
Fire department supervisors at McMullen’s place of work at Fire Station #81 at Paschall Road and Ga. Highway 74 initiated the process that led to the administration of sobriety tests by Peachtree City Police officers after performing a “mouth swab” at the fire station where McMullen had reported for duty.
Subsequent testing showed the 32-year-old Fayetteville resident with a blood alcohol levels of .135 and .136.
Peachtree City spokesperson Betsy Tyler said Tuesday that McMullen had been terminated on Jan. 13 for city policy violations. City policy provides a 10-day period to appeal the termination. McMullen registered no appeal of the city’s decision, Tyler said.
Officers on Jan. 11 administered several sobriety tests, with the results showing a blood alcohol level .135 and .136, police reports said. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.
Just prior to the administration of an additional sobriety test, one that is voluntary, McMullen said he would agree to the test and that he “wanted to prove he was innocent,” according to reports.
With the results of that test coming in at .136, the officer asked McMullen about the alcohol he had consumed. McMullen said he had consumed 10 glasses of wine at around 8 p.m. on Jan. 10, adding that he had consumed no alcohol that morning or since reporting to work, the report said. McMullen also told officers he drove his vehicle from his home in Fayetteville to work at the Paschall Road fire station earlier that morning, according to reports.
McMullen was subsequently charged with DUI and transported to the Fayette County Jail.
McMullen was one of the Recruit Class graduates in 2007 and, in January 2008, was named Peachtree City Fire Department’s Rookie of the Year.
