Five HFD members demoted for theft of UPS packages
Five members of the Hattiesburg Fire Department have been demoted after an investigation into theft of packages from a UPS truck.
Fire Chief Paul Presley said three officers were demoted: two from captain to lieutenant and one from lieutenant to engineer. The officers also received a year-long probation.
Two other firefighters who were demoted also received a year's probation, along with reprimand and one shift without pay.
If the firefighters incur violations during their probation, they will be terminated.
Presley declined to give the names of the fire department members.
"Those individuals got disciplined for it," he said. "The Pre-Action Committee pretty much came up with the decision to demote, so that's what I did."
The incident took place Sept. 1, when firefighters responded to a burning UPS truck on Interstate 59. After extinguishing the fire, the firefighters allegedly stole undetermined packages off the truck.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.