North Texas deputy fire chief charged with drunk driving in fire truck

PANTEGO, Texas – A North Texas deputy fire chief was recently arrested for driving a fire engine while drunk.

The arrest took place last month in the Fort Worth suburb of Pantego.

The deputy fire chief was wearing a uniform when he gave a stranded driver a free ride despite having twice the legal blood alcohol level, city officials said.

Pantego Deputy Fire Chief Robert Franklin, who also serves as emergency response coordinator, was arrested on July 24 for driving while under the influence in a fire department vehicle.

Pantego Town Manager Joe Ashton says Franklin was in uniform and driving a fire department SUV when he offered a ride to a stranded driver who was trying to pick up her child. But while she was riding with Franklin, his driving and behavior led her to believe he was drunk.

“She asked to be let out and he let her out,” Ashton said.

The woman called 911.

Pantego police found Franklin in the SUV parked behind the fire station. The SUV had exterior damage.

“He didn’t ask for special treatment,” Ashton said.

Court documents show that Franklin's blood alcohol content was at least twice the legal limit.

The arrest occurred around 8 p.m. Ashton says because Franklin was in a city vehicle, he was considered a man on duty.

According to Franklin's public LinkedIn page, he spent 20 years in Lancaster, where he was fire chief, before moving to Pantego in 2019.

Now, after a leave of absence, Franklin has decided to retire.

“My officers and our staff did absolutely everything they could to treat him with respect, but also just as they would treat any other person under the law,” Ashton said.

Franklin was released on $500 bail. His conditions include not taking drugs or alcohol and providing regular urine samples.

FOX 4 reached out to Frankin and his attorney but has not received a response.