Former Jackson firefighter accused of impersonating fireman

JACKSON, Tenn. — Police arrested a former Jackson fireman accused of posing as a real firefighter. Corye Martin, 30, was formally charged Monday with multiple counts of criminal impersonation.

Martin is accused of impersonating a real Jackson firefighter in order to get a firefighter license plate. Jackson Fire Chief Max Stewart said it does not make sense. “I don’t understand why he would do that because he’s no longer a member of the department,” Stewart said.

Court documents said Martin used a city of Jackson firefighter ID on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 to get three firefighter license plates at the Madison County Clerk’s Office.

“There’s no mechanism in place for us to do the verification,” Madison County Clerk Fred Birmingham said. “We have to rely on the honesty of the citizen and the individual.”

Stewart said when people leave the department they are supposed to turn in their equipment and ID.

In order to get a firefighter tag, investigators said the vehicle owner must be a volunteer, full-time or other bona fide firefighter. “It’s not going to get you anything to have that tag on there,” Stewart said. “I mean there’s no special privileges.”

Martin pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism in 2014 involving a shooting at an east Jackson convenience store. The city said he was terminated in July 2014.

Martin is currently free on a $2,000 bond. He is due back in court March 24.