An Enid Fire Department fire captain has been terminated following an October incident involving a laser allegedly pointed at an airplane.
Fire Civil Service Commission Secretary Corbin Baker read the findings of fact and conclusions of law just before a nearly 12-hour meeting concluded shortly after 9 p.m. Monday. A hearing and deliberations were held in executive session — which is closed to the public — for charges filed by Fire Chief Joe Jackson against Fire Capt. Denton Morgan.
According to the findings of fact, a green laser was pointed more than once at a UPS plane during its approach and subsequent take-off from Enid Woodring Regional Airport on Oct. 15. The laser originated from Morgan's property and Morgan testified the only two people on the property at the time were him and his wife, Baker read.
Morgan testified he and his wife were in possession of a dart gun with a green laser and it was in use by both of them on the property at the time, Baker read.
"Capt. Morgan testified that the laser was not intentionally aimed at the plane by him or his wife. However, it is not credible that the laser could accidentally have hit the cockpit the number of times it occurred. One of the two persons on the property had to intentionally point the laser at the plane," he read. "Capt. Morgan made a statement that it was impossible for his wife to have pointed the laser at the plane because of the condition of her shoulder. He denies he pointed the laser at the plane. One of these two statements of his must be untrue."