
By Marilyn Parker| May 16, 2019 at 7:49 AM EDT – Updated May 16 at 7:49 AM
DAWSON, Ga. (WALB) – Dawsonâs public safety director said heâs to blame for re-hiring a registered sex offender at the fire department.
The firefighter, Norrick Brown, has now been dismissed from the department.
Dawson Public Safety Director Tommy Poupard said he wasnât aware Brown was a registered sex offender, until WALB got a tip about it, and contacted Poupard.
Now, he said heâs going to be more careful when reviewing applications.
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âNorrick Brown had worked with us in the past. He got in some trouble. I thought I knew what it was, but it appears I didnât,â said Poupard.
Poupard said he didnât know Brown had been accused of sending sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl, according to WALBâs archives in 2013.
âWell that was news to us, so I went to do some checking,â he said.
It wasnât until WALB reached out to Poupard Tuesday when the station got a tip about Brownâs re-hiring.
Now, after the district attorneyâs office said he pleaded guilty to sexual battery in 2014, Brown is listed as a registered sex offender on the GBI website.
âI dropped the ball on it. I shouldâve performed a little more due diligence but thankfully we caught,â he explained.
The assistant district attorney told WALB Brown was sentenced to five years probation.
Poupard said on Brownâs application it only stated battery as a prior offense, as well as three references from within the department.
âAll three with the fire department here in Dawson, and they were happy to see him back. He was a good firefighter,â he said.
But Poupard said being a good firefighter is not enough for him to remain on the force.
Moving forward, he said theyâre looking into adding more questions to job applications, if legally allowed.
âBecause of the people, we deal with the public, we just canât have that perception sitting there,â he explained.
WALB did try to get the court documents for Brownâs case, but the court has sealed them from the public.
Poupard said heâs been in contact with the Dawson interim city manager about changing applications to ask for more information.
The city manager did not want to comment.
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Source: https://www.walb.com/2019/05/16/registered-sex-offender-fired-dawson-fire-dept/