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Authorities: Forsyth County detective fired for being intoxicated while on duty
FCSO

A Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office detective has been fired and now faces potential criminal charges, after an internal affairs investigation concluded the detective was intoxicated while on duty while attending a public event, authorities say.  

Detective Gregory M. Cannon, an investigator with the sheriff’s office’s major crimes unit, was terminated from the sheriff’s office on Sept. 13 for violating the sheriff’s office’s policy which prohibits on duty use of alcohol by employees, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office press release.

An internal affairs investigation into Cannon’s behavior began on Sept. 11, when individuals attending a public event reported to their supervisors that Cannon, an on duty investigator, appeared to be intoxicated at the event. Agency commanders were immediately notified of the situation and reportedly confronted Cannon within minutes, the release states.

“Based upon the initial investigation [Cannon] was immediately placed on administrative leave and taken for an alcohol test by agency supervisors,” the release states. “The Office of Professional Standards began an investigation of the employee’s conduct and upon a review of their internal affairs findings; the employee was terminated from the agency.”

According to Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. Doug Rainwater, Cannon had worked for the agency since 2007.

Beyond Cannon’s termination from the sheriff’s office, authorities say that the internal affairs findings also indicated that the detective may have violated Georgia Law during the incident, and the incident is now being investigated as a DUI by the sheriff’s office’s Traffic Unit.

“The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office takes a firm stance on misuse of alcohol or any drug by employees,” the release states. “Citizens of Forsyth County deserve the highest level of professionalism and any employee using alcohol on duty has betrayed that trust and will be held accountable.”