Brunswick's deputy fire chief fired over porn

John Madala says it wasn't porn, claims investigation was politically motivated

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The deputy fire chief of the Brunswick Fire Department was fired over what police called pornography kept in his locker at work. John Madala, who is also a Glynn County school board member, said there is more to the story.

A police investigation into 16 sexually explicit movies found in Madala's locker at the fire station began in January when an anonymous complaint came into the city.  Investigators were also told he watched and shared one of the DVDs with his colleagues.

Madala was terminated earlier this week because of violations of city policy.

Madala is not hiding from the allegations, showing News4Jax some of the DVDs that he said got him fired, including "Harold and Kumar," "The Girl Next Door," "Swimming Pool" and "Malibu Spring Break."  He insists "unequivocally" they are not pornography.

"Some of them are of course sexual in nature, but it's not a sex film," Madala said. "It's a college-like atmosphere film, just thinkless, mindless humor to me."

The movie he couldn't locate was the clincher -- one his friend made of surfing, fishing and nude women on the beach in Brazil and Costa Rica that had the words "XXX BAD BAD BAD" written in black sharpie on it.

Madala said he kept the DVDs in his work locker so his kids didn't wouldn't see them.

The police captain who handled the investigation had a different version the facts, saying the video shows women performing sexual acts on themselves and others.  The investigation also noted that two of Madala's co-workers admitted that he showed them the movie.

Madala pointed out a pile of Maxim magazines addressed to the Brunswick Fire Department, asking, "Where do you draw the line?"

"This is a magazine that is not R-rated. This is a magazine anybody can get, but it could be construed as sexually suggestive," Madala said.

Madala said he was up for consideration as fire chief and the investigation into the videos a political ploy to get rid of him.

"I guess I was a little bit too aggressive and they decided to get rid of me and they found a way," Madala said. "I poured my heart and my soul into the Brunswick Fire Department because I love the Brunswick Fire Department and helping people. And I got helped right on out."

The city manager wouldn't discuss Malala's dismissal, referring all questions to city police.