An Arkansas sheriff's deputy was fired after his department conducted an ethics investigation prompted by a complaint that he drove past a school bus as it was letting children off, according to a news release.
Cleburne County Sheriff Chris Brown said in the release that his office received a complaint Thursday that one of its deputies had committed the traffic violation.
Todd Maxey, 44, the deputy involved, had worked for the department on and off since 2003, Brown said in an email.
Brown said officials investigated, gathering statements from Maxey and witnesses. Meanwhile, Maxey was placed on paid leave.
Investigators later determined that the deputy had committed the violation and he was issued a traffic citation for passing a stopped school bus, according to the release.
The sheriff said Maxey gave “contradicting stories” about the traffic violation during the investigation, and that he broke the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics by doing so. Based on that, and not the traffic violation itself, Maxey was fired, Brown said.