MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Newly released video calls into question the abilities of Sandra Richards, the Memphis Fire Battalion Chief facing criminal charges for forging the will of former Tennessee State Representative Ulysses Jones.
When you watch this video keep in mind, when you're a Battalion Chief, you are responsible for keeping your fellow firefighters safe.
"Get out of my face. Record that," Richards said the night she was fired from the Memphis Fire Department. But after watching her deposition tape, you wonder how she was able to get and keep her job on the command staff.
"I don't recall." that was the answer Richards gave over and over again when questioned by lawyers in the civil case over the will of former State Rep. Ulysses Jones.
Richards couldn't recall basic things like when she moved into her home or details about the car she drives.
She was asked, "Did anyone help you purchase your vehicle?" to which she replied, "I don't recall."
She couldn't recall the address she used for her taxes.
And despite being in charge of a battalion of fire firefighters, she couldn't answer questions about the departments command structure.
"Do you know what your division chief does?"
"No, I don't," Richards answered.
Richards was able to remember details about her relationship with Jones, but then her memory lapsed again.
"You can't remember how often you saw him?"
Richards: "I can't remember."
"1 time a week?"
Richards: "I can't recall."
"Two times a week?"
Richards: "I can't recall."
"More or less?"
Richards: "I can't recall."
After this court deposition and trial last May, a civil court judge ruled the will Richards produced that would have given her all of Jones' assets was a fake. But instead of taking swift action and disciplining her, Memphis fire bosses protected her, keeping her on the payroll for months until she was criminally charged with forgery in December.
But the lack of answers became an issue for the lawyer representing the Jones family.
"You don't recall anything? Are you going to recall anything today?"
Richards: "I am going to recall what I recall."
"You don't know who's the beneficiary on your life insurance policy?"
Richards: "I don't."
Richards blamed stress for her bad memory. But if Richards couldn't remember basic questions, it makes you wonder why the fire bosses kept her on the job and how effective she was.
Richards didn't respond to ABC 24's request for an interview.
