Denver Firefighter Tim Plybon Busted for Masturbating in Aurora Mall

Over the past few years, the Denver Fire Department has received more than its share of bad publicity.

Note criticism over an alleged lack of diversity in the ranks, the firing of a DFD captain who denied accusations that he used offensive language, and a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed male firefighters used porn to harass a female colleague.

And that's not to mention the bizarre stabbing of Eric Tade, the department's chief, earlier this year.

Now comes what is arguably the most embarrassing item to date: Denver Firefighter Tim Plybon has been arrested for allegedly masturbating inside a store at the Town Center of Aurora mall.

According to an Aurora police report obtained by 9News, the incident took place on June 6 inside From Mexico Con Amor, a store described on the Town Center of Aurora website as featuring "a variety of candies, clothing and specialty items from Mexico."

An employee was helping two teenage girls when Plybon entered the store, the report maintains.

Shortly thereafter, a man and his girlfriend told officers that they saw Plybon walking "around the store and the whole time Plybon had his penis in his hand."

Plybon, who reportedly became a member of the Denver Fire Department in 2007, is said to have subsequently ignored a stop command from an off-duty Aurora police officer and tried to rabbit before being cornered by a Town Center security guard. He was later given a summons for misdemeanor indecent exposure and is currently on administrative leave at the department.

Which definitely doesn't need any more negative PR. Here's a look at Plybon's booking photo.