Officials won't say whether the upcoming Southeast Bulloch Middle School Teacher of the Year police said exposed himself to an undercover officer Tuesday will be disciplined or fired.
Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police Public Information Officer Buck Elliot said Remer R. Pope, 51, a Southeast Bulloch Middle School graduation coach and teacher, was charged with public indecency Tuesday evening after an undercover police officer saw him fondling himself and exposing his genitals in a public bathroom.
The arrest was part of a sting operation to stop indecent acts in the area, reports stated.
While Bulloch County School Superintendent Dr. Lewis Holloway would not speak about Pope's employment status, he said " ... I can assure parents that the school is taking appropriate measures to protect our students."
Elliott said an undercover sting operation was set up at a public bathroom at King's Ferry boat landing Tuesday evening after the Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police received numerous complaints about " vice activity" in the area.
Around 6 p.m., Pope walked into the bathroom stall next to the one where the undercover officer was set up, Elliot said.
Pope and the officer never spoke to each other, but Pope stood in front of a hole in the partition between the stalls and fondled himself, he said. Then he exposed his genital area through the hole,
That's when the undercover officer signaled the "take down" team, and officers entered the bathroom to arrest Pope, Elliott said.
Pope, charged with public indecency, was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center and his vehicle was towed, he said.
Pope later posted bond and answered the telephone at his Statesboro home Friday afternoon.
He refused to comment on his arrest, but asked a Statesboro Herald reporter " Are y'all going to print this in your paper as well?" The Savannah Morning News printed an article about Pope's arrest Friday.
When told the Statesboro Herald was investigating the incident and would report its findings, Pope said " You may as well. Thank you for calling."
While Holloway said he could not comment on Pope's employment status or disciplinary record, he did say the Bulloch County school board will hold a public hearing at its next scheduled meeting Aug. 28 to discuss termination of an employee. He said he could not say which employee or employees would be the subject of the hearing.
Pope was "was chosen by the faculty of Southeast Bulloch Middle School as their Teacher of the Year (TOTY) representative for this school year," said Mary Henley, Holloway's administrative assistant. " The final stage of the process has not been completed at this time. If Mr. Pope is unable to fulfill the responsibilities ... the runner up will assume the title."
Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police Public Information Officer Buck Elliot said Remer R. Pope, 51, a Southeast Bulloch Middle School graduation coach and teacher, was charged with public indecency Tuesday evening after an undercover police officer saw him fondling himself and exposing his genitals in a public bathroom.
The arrest was part of a sting operation to stop indecent acts in the area, reports stated.
While Bulloch County School Superintendent Dr. Lewis Holloway would not speak about Pope's employment status, he said " ... I can assure parents that the school is taking appropriate measures to protect our students."
Elliott said an undercover sting operation was set up at a public bathroom at King's Ferry boat landing Tuesday evening after the Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police received numerous complaints about " vice activity" in the area.
Around 6 p.m., Pope walked into the bathroom stall next to the one where the undercover officer was set up, Elliot said.
Pope and the officer never spoke to each other, but Pope stood in front of a hole in the partition between the stalls and fondled himself, he said. Then he exposed his genital area through the hole,
That's when the undercover officer signaled the "take down" team, and officers entered the bathroom to arrest Pope, Elliott said.
Pope, charged with public indecency, was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center and his vehicle was towed, he said.
Pope later posted bond and answered the telephone at his Statesboro home Friday afternoon.
He refused to comment on his arrest, but asked a Statesboro Herald reporter " Are y'all going to print this in your paper as well?" The Savannah Morning News printed an article about Pope's arrest Friday.
When told the Statesboro Herald was investigating the incident and would report its findings, Pope said " You may as well. Thank you for calling."
While Holloway said he could not comment on Pope's employment status or disciplinary record, he did say the Bulloch County school board will hold a public hearing at its next scheduled meeting Aug. 28 to discuss termination of an employee. He said he could not say which employee or employees would be the subject of the hearing.
Pope was "was chosen by the faculty of Southeast Bulloch Middle School as their Teacher of the Year (TOTY) representative for this school year," said Mary Henley, Holloway's administrative assistant. " The final stage of the process has not been completed at this time. If Mr. Pope is unable to fulfill the responsibilities ... the runner up will assume the title."