Douglas Fire Chief's Termination Stems From Firefighter's Hiring

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Douglas County Fire Chief Roderick Jolivette has been terminated after being put on administrative leave and an internal investigation into the department's hiring practices involving a firefighter.

Deputy Fire Chief Miles Allen will serve as interim fire chief until further notice, Douglas County officials said in an April 11 statement sent to Patch Monday.

"Chief Jolivette's leadership and contributions to the department are recognized and
appreciated, but the county has decided to move in a different direction," Acting County Administrator David Corbin said in the statement.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners sent Jolivette a letter on March 31, notifying him that his termination will be effective May 1. He has been on paid administrative leave since Feb.22.

The board cited Jolivette's performance as the reason for his termination, including the failure to comply with applicable Douglas County policy, the failure to follow orders and the failure to adequately complete work assignments.

"While Jolivette was on administrative leave, the administration evaluated the department's management, screening and hiring practices and found deficiencies that are not consistent with the strategic goals and mission of the county," county officials said in the statement.

The Investigation's Findings

According to the investigation results released by the county, the probe into Jolivette involved circumstances surrounding the May 2021 hiring of firefighter Daymetrie Dayco Williams.

According to the county, an arrest warrant was issued for Williams on Jan. 23 in Madison County, Alabama, for failure to appear at a duly scheduled court hearing. Officials said the warrant was related to a Sept. 9, 2019, theft by deception case.

Commissioner Mark Alcarez asked Jolivette on Jan. 27 to investigate Williams' arrest warrant to which Jolivette agreed, according to the county. However, on Jan. 30, Jolivette told Alcarez he was not able to obtain active warrant information in Alabama, according to the county.

The county accused Jolivette of not further investigating though Alcarez confirmed the warrant on Feb. 2, when Jolivette was asked to look into Williams' criminal history and the arrest warrant.

"The commissioner thereafter called Chief Jolivette to report the information he had learned and to ask him to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to obtain information (as commissioner Alcarez had done). Commissioner Alcarez asked Chief Jolivette to address the situation as soon as possible. Chief Jolivette never communicated with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to confirm the warrant or obtain information related to it after receiving Commissioner Alcarez’s request," according to the county.

Jolivette notified county officials on Feb. 7 that he would meet with Williams three days later, and Jolivette was instructed to report any of Williams' background information that the county should be made aware of since employment. County officials said the meeting never took place, and Jolivette was accused of deeming Williams being on leave as the reason.

Jolivette was accused of telling county officials he never met with Williams because he was waiting to meet with administration and because he thought the legal department was overseeing the investigation.

Williams spoke with then-Deputy Fire Chief Allen on Feb. 10, when officials said Williams denied knowing he had an arrest warrant. Officials said Williams was previously convicted twice in 2019, serving seven days in jail on suspicion of a cruelty to animals charge and serving five days on suspicion of a confining an animal to a pen charge.

Williams was accused of providing a false statement to his supervisor after officials said he told Allen he had not been in Alabama since 2015.

Further investigation showed Jolivette provided inconsistent or incomplete information to the county regarding Williams' background and the arrest warrant, according to the county.

"Chief Jolivette did not perform a timely or proper investigation into the Williams matter
as directed, and failed to follow multiple directives to perform an investigation and address the
situation," read county documents.

The county also accused Jolivette of violating a media policy by speaking with the local newspaper regarding Williams' arrest warrant.

Bill Crane, a county spokesman, told Patch Monday Williams is currently employed with the county fire department.

"As there is an active investigation of the circumstances of his hiring, job application and approvals still underway, and this is a human resources matter," Crane said in a statement.
"Douglas County will have no further comment at this time."