Chief: Fireman acted alone in filing complaint

FLORENCE - Central Volunteer Fire Chief Terry Lovelace said a complaint filed by a firefighter against a Lauderdale County sheriff's deputy was not made on behalf of the fire department.

"As far as filing a complaint, (Jay Gibson) was acting alone," Lovelace said. "Our department responded to the accident that morning, just like we would any other accident that we are called to."

Lovelace said he didn't know about the complaint Gibson had filed with Sheriff Ronnie Willis until Thursday.

Gibson filed the report in regard to actions by deputy Ronnie Valentine, who was off duty when a traffic accident occurred Oct. 4.

Gibson said he responded to the wreck that occurred on Lauderdale 200.

The accident occurred at 2:30 a.m., according to state troopers.

Gibson said he told the County Commission about the complaint in a recent meeting, saying it was his understanding that Valentine was chasing the vehicle that eventually crashed.

He said in his complaint that he did not blame Valentine for causing the wreck, but questioned why an off-duty deputy was chasing the vehicle.

"Why would he be chasing someone in his personal vehicle without running lights and sirens?" Gibson asked.

Valentine said the driver was intoxicated and he followed him, keeping his distance, and he didn't cause the other vehicle to crash.

According to state troopers, the driver ran off the roadway and crashed. He was not seriously injured.

Gibson told commissioners that troopers arrested the driver for driving under the influence.

Chief Deputy Jr. Witt said he and Willis received the formal complaint and they turned it over to the department's attorney for review.

He said chief investigator Travis Clemmons is conducting an internal investigation.

He said the department will decide whether to take any action after the investigation is completed.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.