JPD officer placed on leave
Jefferson police officer Robert Fehr has been placed on administrative leave and an internal investigation is under way into possible criminal activity.
Jefferson police chief Joe Wirthman confirmed Monday that Fehr had been placed on leave, but said he could not elaborate on the allegations because the investigation was still under way. He said the allegations could be criminal.
“Due to an allegation that has come forward, we have an officer who is allegedly seeing a teenager,” Wirthman said. “The officer was put on administrative leave with pay while the investigation is done.”
The allegations reportedly revolve around contact with a teenager at a local school where Fehr provided part-time security.
“Due to an allegation that has come forward, we have an officer who is allegedly seeing a teenager,” Wirthman said. “The officer was put on administrative leave with pay while the investigation is done.”
The allegations reportedly revolve around contact with a teenager at a local school where Fehr provided part-time security.
We do not know the definition of "seeing" in this situation. We also do not know the age of the teenager the allegations are in reference to. If I remember correctly the meaning of teenager goes to the age of 19 (and yes, there are many 19 year olds still in school).
In the State of Georgia, the age of consent is 16. If anything happened that "seeing" doesn't cover and they both agreed to it there is no crime. If he abused his power to force the "seeing" of someone it is a crime.
I was in high school with the SRO's and the majority of them ARE NOT seeking out students. If two people consent to something and are both of age...police officer or not, the only thing violated is a possible department policy.
Yes, I know that in Georgia un-married sex as well as adultry is illegal...but I would dare for someone to take that road with this officer considering the long list of un-wed and adultress activity that goes around in law enforcement and the school systems...over 1/2 of the students would be in the juvenile court system.
Give it time. We could find out the girl is 18...or 14. Wait until the full story comes out before judgements are made. Let the department conduct the investigation, which by the way, I agree should be outsourced. If the girl is underaged...his career should be destroyed and his freedom taken away, but if this is just a misunderstanding or a teenager who is fully capable of making her own decisions...let them be.
I do not disagree that the morals and ethics aren't there...but she's 17. I doubt the girl was threatened in any way...and if she was CHARGE HIM.
By the way, how do you think this is affecting his wife and children? I would be infuriated at my husband...but it doesn't mean he should be placed on unpaid leave and charged criminally for "seeing" a 17 year old. His wife needs to decide how she will handle the situation that has been dropped in her lap and I'm sure devastated the family.
And yes, I would be concerned if my 17 year old daughter was dating a 42 year old man, but let me ask you this question; Have you or one of your children dated someone much older/younger? I have and we've been married quite some time. Do not judge until you have walked in those shoes...and if you have walked in those shoes, you know what the judgement feels like so you don't go around judging others.
Age does not mean that a person is loved less or more by the other. It should bring concern, and Officer Fehr being married proposes a problem, but if he were not married I would be appauled at the judgements being thrown out because of the age.
The 17 year old is fully capeable of making her own decisions. If it was forced then he should be charged with sexual assualt at the least; otherwise, leave the judgements to his wife and the JPD...which is soooo full of morals and ethics to begin with.
We citizens are guilty in their eyes before proven innocent. Innocent until proven guilty only applies to the officers, other govt officials and the wealthy. They search people daily without warrants or probable cause. There needs to be an outside organization that makes sure law enforcement does not misuse their authority. Which should also require random drug testing.
Most officers are not corrupt, however there are good and bad people every where you go.
What a lynch mob! Geez!
How will you feel if he is exonerated like Darren Glenn has been? How will he recover his reputation?
I'm glad we have a trial by jury requiring a unanimous vote. I would hate for any of the above judgers to be my judge. This is probably why the divorce rate is so high.
1. Q: does the HEAD of an agency conduct a background check on every person that gets hired?
A: NO he has a chain of command (IE: a captain or a major) that does that then makes recommendations back to him.
2. If he met the girl at the school then their are legal issues if not then THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP (17 is an adult in the state of GA. and 16 is the legal age of consent).
3. when an officer is accused of a crime they are routinely placed on PAID leave pending the outcome of the investigation this is common in ALL agencies( you cant take someones livleyhood away on an accusation without risk of a law suite)
2nd read my previous post Even if the GBI is called in it won't bite Wirthman's a**. he can not know what his officers do in their off time. he can react to the situation and act on evidence and proof not accusations all within the guidelines of the LAW.
WRITHMAN KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT FEHR AND THE GBI WILL FIND OUT IF THEY DO THE WORK.
A: yes
Q: Does an officers oath state you will obey 99.9% of the laws of this state?
A: No it says you will obey ALL laws of this state.
Q: Is Georgia a right to work state
A: yes
Q: Does officer Fehr have to have committed a crime to violate the trust of the people he swore to protect?
A: no
But when it comes to one of his boy's from florida he will not do the right thing. Let the GBI do their if you don't have anything to hide Writhman.