Palmyra Fire Company Resumes Operations After Sex Offender Incident

The fire department was temporarily closed after a registered sex offender was discovered participating in company activities.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a firefighter's badge or helmet against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the unsettling discovery of a registered sex offender at the fire department.A harsh, gritty image of a firefighter's badge or helmet symbolizes the disturbing discovery of a registered sex offender infiltrating the Palmyra Fire Company.Charlottesville Today

The Palmyra Fire Company in Fluvanna County, Virginia has resumed normal operations after being temporarily closed last week when it was discovered that a registered sex offender, Sammie Gene Morris Jr., had been participating in company activities and spending time at the firehouse for up to a year. The fire chief said they are confident no patients or personnel were harmed, but that established policies were not followed, leading to the issue going unrecognized.

Why it matters

The incident raises concerns about security protocols and background checks at volunteer fire departments, which often have open access to the public and rely on community members. It also highlights the challenges of monitoring and restricting the activities of registered sex offenders in the community.

The details

According to the fire chief's letter, Morris Jr. was observed responding to emergency calls in a personal vehicle and exhibiting suspicious behavior. A subsequent background check revealed he is a registered sex offender who was recently charged with violating the terms of his registration. It's unclear how frequently he was at the firehouse or what interactions he may have had with the public or fire department personnel.

  • On March 27, the fire chief notified the community about the incident.
  • The Palmyra Fire Company was temporarily closed on Friday to conduct an investigation.
  • The fire company resumed normal operations on Saturday morning.

The players

Sammie Gene Morris Jr.

A registered sex offender who was discovered participating in activities at the Palmyra Fire Company for up to a year.

Andrew Pullen

The fire chief of the Kent's Store Fire Company, who notified the community about the incident involving Sammie Gene Morris Jr.

Fluvanna County

The county that temporarily closed the Palmyra Fire Company and suspended members from responding to calls while they conducted an investigation.

Virginia State Police

The state police agency that the fire chief said would conduct an independent investigation, although they have no record of being requested to do so.

Virginia Office of EMS

The state agency that the fire chief said would also conduct an independent investigation.

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What they’re saying

“Following recent personnel and administrative changes, and with the support of our Medical Director and County Administrator, the Palmyra Volunteer Fire Company returned to normal operations at 0700 this (Saturday) morning.”

— Andrew Pullen, Fire Chief, Kent's Store Fire Company

“At this time, we are confident that no patients, community members, or any of our own personnel were harmed. However, it has been identified that established administrative policies—designed specifically to prevent this type of situation—were not followed. Additionally, a culture of complacency contributed to the issue going unrecognized.”

— Andrew Pullen, Fire Chief, Kent's Store Fire Company

What’s next

The fire chief said they will initiate a third-party, independent investigation into the matter and make the findings public after completion. The Virginia State Police and Virginia Office of EMS have also been notified and may conduct their own investigations.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of strict security protocols and background checks at volunteer fire departments to protect the public and personnel, even in close-knit community organizations. It also underscores the challenges of monitoring registered sex offenders and restricting their access to sensitive locations.