EAST POINT, Ga. — An officer with a local police department has been fired from the department after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a minor while on duty.
East Point Police fired Sgt. Richard Gooddine Wednesday after an internal affairs investigation found he "violated multiple departmental policies and procedures."
This comes days after a mother of a 15-year-old called to tell 11Alive her daughter was sexually assaulted by Gooddine while he was on duty Sunday night. Gooddine has not been charged with any crimes.
Members of that officer's family told 11Alive over the phone that the allegations against him are "outside of his character" and have shocked the family.
But 11Alive is learning that this incident is not the first time that Gooddine has faced allegations like this.
According to the East Point Police Department, Gooddine was investigated for child molestation and sexual battery against another 15-year-old girl back in 2011. However, the department said there was not enough evidence and he was not prosecuted. He was placed on administrative leave, and was allowed to return back to full duty. 11Alive requested more information on that case from the District Attorney's office, but did not get details back.
Meanwhile, the mom of the most recent alleged victims told 11Alive she is concerned that Gooddine is still a free man while the investigation is allowed to continue.
"(I'm) more fearful than anything that he has been fired, and how he's going to handle this situation, and how he might feel," the mom, whom 11Alive is not naming as it would identify a victim of sexual assault. "I feel for the safety of my daughter."
The mom wanted to know what the department is going to do to protect them both, now that he doesn't have a badge, especially after the mom said Gooddine showed up to the hospital looking for her 15-year-old daughter after the alleged assault on Sunday.
"I feel like East Point has failed their community, have failed their citizens," the mom said. "Even though he was not charged or prosecuted in that (previous) case, that type of behavior should not carry a badge."
11Alive took her concerns to the department, who said they plan on increasing patrolling where the girl lives to make her and her family feel safe. The department said while they have not gotten any reports of threats against the 15-year-old, they said they family should call 911 if they feel unsafe at any time.
She said she is now worried for her daughter's mental health, saying the girl is still traumatized and fearful.
"She is emotionally destroyed, and it breaks my heart that I cannot be there for my daughter to take those feelings away from her," the mom said.
