Acworth Firefighter Admits Steroid Use

A Cobb firefighter from Acworth has been suspended for 10 days without pay after admitting that he injected three to four vials of illegal steroids that he purchased from a former Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services employee in 2008.

Vaughn D. Zellers is one of three firefighters disciplined in recent days in the wake of an investigation into alleged steroid distribution and use among Cobb firefighters and police officers. While Lt. Rick Bennett was cleared Monday of any wrongdoing, engineer Jody Cochran was suspended Friday for three days without pay and firefighter Darnell Musgrove was fired Monday, according to letters Chief Sam Heaton sent to the men.

Firefighter Craig Nemeth and police Ofc. E.A. Meadors had already resigned.

Zellers, who initially lied to investigators when asked if he had purchased illegal steroids in the past, faced termination. A former U.S. Marine and Woodstock police officer, he was spared because he had no prior disciplinary history over the course of his 15-year career with the Cobb fire department and intends to train others on the dangers of steroid use, Heaton wrote in his Aug. 9 letter to Zellers. The agency also received "numerous" emails and letters from co-workers that spoke highly of Zellers and his value to the department.

"As you described how you have tried to put these times in your life behind you and lead a good professional and personal way of life," Heaton wrote, "you reminded me of how you tackled these issues without any work performance issues and while dealing with the recent illnesses of your mother and father. ... Based upon all these factors, I believe that you can continue to be a productive employee."

Cobb started its investigation May 20 after the Marietta Cobb Smyrna Narcotics Unit received a tip that a former firefighter may have illegally used steroids in 2010, county spokesman Robert Quigley said. Following additional claims that other firefighters and a police officer could be involved, the investigation expanded, he said. In all, five firefighters and one police officer were under investigation.

There are no indications that the alleged distribution or use of steroids occurred on county property or while the employees were on duty, Quigley said. However, Cobb has a zero tolerance policy for the possession or consumption of controlled substances unless directed by a physician.

"We expect our employees to follow the rules, to set a positive example for those around them and to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct both on and off duty," county manager David Hankerson said in July.

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