An attorney for Capt. Denton Morgan, a 17-year veteran of the fire department, says he will appeal the decision.
A UPS pilot reported Oct. 15 a green laser shining multiple times into his plane as he landed and took off from Enid Woodring Regional Airport, according to a police report. Morgan owns property adjacent to the airport and told investigating officers he was in his pasture medicating cattle with his dart gun, which has a green laser sight attached to it.
"There is no evidence that he pointed it," attorney Mark Hammons said. "They made him a scapegoat to cover an embarrassing situation."
The Fire Civil Service Commission held a hearing Monday and voted unanimously to terminate Morgan.
Morgan testified at the hearing that the only people on his property at the time of the report were himself and his wife, and that both used the dart gun with the green laser.
He also told the panel neither he nor his wife intentionally pointed the laser at the plane, but the commission determined the laser couldn't have accidentally hit the cockpit as many times as it did, according to a commission report.
The commission concluded Morgan violated the fire department's code of ethics by being dishonest about the incident on his property.
Morgan's termination was effective immediately. He has been on administrative leave since the incident, Hammons said.
"It is a terrible situation for him. It is a bad situation for the city of Enid, who's deprived of the services of a very loyal, longstanding employee of the fire department," he said.
The FBI investigated the pilot's report, according to an Enid city spokesman. No charges have been filed.
Woodring Regional Airport Manager Dan Ohnesorge said it's the first time he's had a pilot report a laser strike.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime punishable by five years in prison. There were nearly 3,900 reports of lasers pointed at aircraft in 2014; 27 reports came from Oklahoma, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. No injuries were reported.
The beam of light from a laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, temporarily blinding the pilot, according to the FBI.
Source: http://newsok.com
An Enid Fire Department fire captain has been placed on administrative leave as part of an investigation into a laser allegedly pointed at an airplane.
Fire Capt. Denton Morgan was placed on administrative leave Nov. 14 for the alleged incident that occurred previously, Enid Fire Chief Joe Jackson has confirmed.
"He's on administrative leave, pending an investigation. Upon investigation, then we'll determine the facts and make the appropriate decision on if there's something there to act on or any discipline," Jackson said.
Enid Police Department provided a redacted report — which does not include names and addresses — on an incident allegedly involving someone shining a laser at incoming and outgoing aircraft on Oct. 15 at Enid Woodring Regional Airport.
Someone at the airport reported to police "he was awaiting the nightly UPS flight when the pilot of the aircraft reported to the tower that someone was shining a green laser into the cockpit of the craft."
The plane reportedly landed and completed its delivery, according to the report.
"As (the plane) was taking off from the airport, the pilot again reported the laser being (shined) into the cockpit. The controller in the tower was able to see the laser this time and could tell that it was coming from a property just (northwest) of the airport," the report states.
According to the report, someone at the airport drove to the property, with the guidance of the controller, and "was going to talk to the subjects there about the incident."
The person reported when he got close to the residence, he saw someone crouched behind a shed, the report states. He asked if the person was pointing a laser and the person told him he was trespassing.
When officers went to the address and made contact with the resident, the man said "he did not know anything about pointing a laser at the planes," according to the report.
The man later laughed, when asked if he had been shining a laser, and said he had been medicating cattle with a dart gun in his pasture, the report states.
"The dart gun has a laser sight attached to it," according to the report.
The pasture is located northwest of the runway, the report states.
"It is unknown if (redacted) was directly targeting the aircraft or if it was inadvertent. The pilot of the UPS flight told the tower that the light was shining in the cockpit the entire time he was taking off until he reached a point beyond the northern edge of the airport," according to the report.
EPD has not arrested or charged anyone in the alleged incident.
A report was filed with the Federal Aviation Administration, the police report states.
FAA Mid-States Public Affairs Manager Lynn Lunsford said he did not immediately find record of a laser incident in Enid.
He said laser incidents are reported to local police.
"If there was an arrest, the FBI and U.S. Attorney would be pursuing the legal aspects," Lunsford said.
A call made to a phone number listed for Morgan rang unanswered Wednesday morning.
“Due to the pending investigation by the Enid Fire Department into this matter, it is not appropriate for me to comment at this time,” City Manager Jerald Gilbert said.
- Source: http://www.enidnews.com
Watch video: http://www.koco.com
It was October 15th when a bright green laser was reportedly pointed at a plane as it landed and took off at the Enid Woodring Regional Airport.
Right now, the Enid Fire Department is trying to figure out if one of their own was involved.
"We consider him a valuable member of the department," said Fire Marshal Ken Helms.
The department has confirmed the firefighter’s identity to NewsChannel 4, but we are not releasing his name since he has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
According to a police report, the pilot said the “light was shining the entire time he was taking off until he reached a point beyond the northern edge of the airport.”
Police were led just north of Woodring.
It's where they allegedly found a couple of people, including the firefighter.
Officers said, on the property, was a dart gun with a laser on it.
One of the subjects claimed they were in the pasture “medicating cattle” with the gun.
The department said their firefighter was off duty at the time of the incident.
“Our procedure is, when we have allegations against our members, we do an investigation to determine if discipline is appropriate,” Helms said.
Stories like this have made national news.
In recent months, there have been numerous instances where people have pointed lasers at planes, which is a very serious crime.
“It isn't funny," said Dan Ohnesorge, the Woodring Airport Director. "It isn't fun for a pilot, and you're potentially causing a catastrophic accident."
He explained how laser lights affect a pilot.
"If you’re driving your car down I-35 at 70 miles an hour and, all of a sudden, you're blinded," Ohnesorge said. "It's kind of like that, although a little bit worse."
Those at the department are hoping their crew member is not the culprit who displayed bad judgement.
The fire department said its investigation could wrap up in a few days.
NewsChannel 4 got a hold of the firefighter's father Wednesday and told him to have his son call for comment.
At this time, we have not heard from him.
Story and video: http://kfor.com
The air traffic control tower stands at Enid Woodring Regional Airport.
GOOD PUBLIC FOLKS don't necessary make correct choices in their private lives.
ReplyDelete