DEEP fires employee accused of threatening co-workers

The state Department of Energy and Environment Protection has fired an employee who was arrested in July and accused of threatening employees and keeping banned weapons.

DEEP employee Lee Sawyer confirmed Sunday that the employee, John Hirschfeld, was terminated, but provided few details. According to the Hartford Courant, Hirschfeld was suspended earlier this summer after he allegedly made threatening comments to co-workers.

The Courant reported that Hirschfeld’s conduct at work prompted state Environmental Conservation Police to obtain a warrant to go into Hirschfeld’s West Hartford home and seize his firearms. During the seizure, police reportedly discovered an AR-15 rifle that under state law is classified as a banned assault weapon. Police also reportedly found four 30-round magazines for the AR-15, which are also banned under state law.

Hirschfeld was charged July 29 with possession of the banned rifle and magazines, and was fired effective Aug. 27. According to the state Judicial Branch, Hirschfeld has plead not guilty to the charges against him and is next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.