Jackson Free Press

Charged with domestic violence for allegedly beating his wife of 10 years, Hinds County deputies arrested Jackson firefighter James McCaffery, 30, on New Year's Eve. Due to the extent of the wife's injuries, the Sheriff's department upped the charge to felony aggravated assault Monday.

The Jackson Fire Department has yet to make a decision whether to dismiss McCaffery from the force. Greg Travis, chief investigator, internal affairs division at the JFD, indicated it may be a week or two before the department makes a final decision. He did say, however, that any firefighter arrested for such a serious charge is automatically suspended from the force with pay pending an investigation.

"We are in the process of getting the internal paperwork," Travis said, adding that investigators will interview all of the parties involved in addition to reviewing McCaffery's arrest record in the coming days.

Fire Chief Vernon Hughes told a Clarion-Ledger reporter that the Sheriff's Department had not provided the documents in the case for his review, however a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department said the information was public record and could be obtained with an affidavit from McCaffery's wife.

On Wednesday, during his initial appearance before special Hinds County Circuit Judge Bill Gowan, McCaffery blamed anti-depressant medicine he is taking to help him stop smoking, while the judge questioned whether he was under the influence of alcohol