A Cobb County firefighter left the department after fellow crew members reported him for making antisemitic comments while on duty. The Cobb County Fire Department serves East Cobb and communities across the county.

Fire Chief Dr. Michael Cunningham said the firefighter's colleagues brought the remarks to leadership quickly, prompting an investigation. Command staff recommended termination based on what investigators found, according to CBS News Atlanta. After meeting with Cunningham, the firefighter chose to resign rather than be fired.

The resignation came during the appeal process. The firefighter had worked for the department for about two years, WSB-TV reported.

The department has not released the firefighter's name. Officials also have not described the specific comments he allegedly made or said whether the remarks were directed at a colleague or a member of the public.

In a Sept. 29 statement to CBS News Atlanta, Cunningham said behavior that undermines community trust or fails to reflect the professionalism expected of department members will not be tolerated. He said every member of the diverse community the department serves deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

The departure comes as antisemitic incidents have risen sharply in Georgia and across the country. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) data cited by WSB-TV showed 80 antisemitic incidents in Georgia in 2022. That figure more than doubled in 2023 and stayed high in 2024.

Nationally, the ADL's 2024 audit documented 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States, a 5% increase over 2023 and a 344% jump over the previous five years. The total was the highest the organization has recorded since it began tracking incidents in the 1970s.

The department has not announced any policy changes, additional training, or public review in response to the incident. Residents with questions can contact the Cobb County Fire Department's public information office at [email protected] or (678) 449-8192.