Director of police academy fired

AUGUSTA - The director of the East Georgia Regional Police Academy was fired Thursday after an investigation into an allegation that he tried to pressue a trainee to support a political candidate. <br> <br> Maj. Michael Farrell, who had been the director for less than a year, would be replaced at least temporarily by assistant director Bob Wilson, said C. David Saye, the head of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. <br> <br> Farrell could not be reached for comment, The Augusta Chronicle reported. <br> <br> The academy is one of 10 where officers in Georgia become certified through the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. <br> <br> Richmond County Marshal Steve Smith said Farrell was being investigated for comments he made during a mandatory training course to a marshal ``about assisting a legislative candidate&#39;&#39; or being failed. Investigators wanted to know whether the comment was a threat or a joke, Smith said. <br> <br> Farrell is a Democrat who contributed $2,000 to state Sen. Charles Walker Sr. and $1,000 to Gov. Roy Barnes, campaign records show. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re satisfied that they conducted the investigation and the result required them to do what they had to do,&#39;&#39; said George Sleister, the chairman of the academy&#39;s advisory board.