Augusta Fire Shift Commander Gregory Hartshorne, a 23-year veteran of the department, has resigned after receiving a termination letter, according to employment records obtained by an open records request.
Hartshorne came into the public awareness after an incident in May when he accidentally ran over the body of a deceased shooting victim. The body was dragged some 50 feet before Hartshorne’s fire department vehicle came to a rest.
While the incident placed Hartshorne’s name in the headlines, he was not fired over the incident as it was ruled to be an accident, leading insiders in the Fire Department, who wish not to be named, to believe that Hartshorne was railroaded and forced out to limit the city’s liability in the matter.
Employment records show that Hartshorne was investigated on May 19, just days after the accident, for having an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate; however, the investigation found no substance to the claims, which were found to be predicated on a rumor, so Hartshorne was exonerated.
On the same date as the inappropriate relationship complaint was filed, another anonymous complaint was filed accusing Hartshorne of operating an independent small business while on duty and using his Fire Department vehicle to conduct his business.
The anonymous complaint is what triggered Hartshorne’s impending termination before he resigned, according to the unnamed sources.
Hartshorne admitted that he has a hobby where he hand-manufactures leather goods, but only charges for the cost of the materials and the products are not available for general retail.
Furthermore, Hartshorne denied operating a “business” and said while he had brought some of his handiwork to work in the past, he stated that he had refrained from doing that again to avoid a misunderstanding or false perception.
Sgt. Travis Petrea, also of Engine Company One, told investigators that he had knowledge of Hartshorne’s hobby, but had never seen him conduct any form of business out of the firehouse.
In a letter to Human Resources Director Anita Rookard, Hartshorne stated that he was under duress when presented with a termination letter and asked Fire Chief Antonio Burden to allow him to resign. According to the letter, dated Sep. 1, Hartshorne asked Rookard to consider his resignation as rescinded.
Hartshorne was placed on administrative leave shortly after the May 13 accident with his county vehicle.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Hartshorne was responding to a “mass casualty situation” in East Augusta when he pulled into the parking lot of West Chatham Emergency Lighting on Prep Phillips Drive. Hartshorne crossed through the parking lot when he “failed to see” victim Germayne Farrell lying at the south edge.
The “mass casualty situation” was a gunfight that erupted between two rival biker gangs. Two men were killed and four others were injured in the shootout.
After months of stonewalling, the Fire Department finally released a toxicology report that showed that Hartshorne was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol when the accident occurred.
When reached by telephone, Hartshorne said that until he has an opportunity to speak with legal counsel, he will decline to comment.
The Fire Department did not respond to a request for comment.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
