Ohio Fire Department’s Leadership Under Investigation

Posted by: Curt Varone October 2, 2016 0

The leadership of an Ohio fire department has been placed on administrative leave and the police chief placed in charge in the aftermath of theft allegations.

The Village of Union City’s mayor, Zachary Pruitt, placed Fire Chief Pamela Idle, Assistant Fire Chief Brian Stump, and Captain Craig Idle on administrative leave without pay as the Darke County Sheriff’s Office initiates an investigation into allegations of theft from the village.

Mayor Pruitt appointed Union City Police Chief Mark Ater to serve as Interim Fire Chief. Chief Ater is a firefighter and a paramedic.

The current investigation comes on the heels of an investigation last spring into the theft of fentanyl from the Union City Fire Department. That investigation resulted in criminal charges against Mya Stump.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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