Firefighters and paramedics with years of experienced were part of a mass resignation from an Ohio township's emergency services department.
The walkout of dozens of first responders happened following an investigator's report concerning the hiring practices of the Mad River Township Fire and EMS Department's leadership, the Enon Eagle reports. In that report, which was released in an executive session of the Mad River Township Board of Trustees on Monday, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge Chief Tim Wendling, Assistant Chief Jackie Ashworth and Captain Kurt Werner.
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The department's administration was under investigation in connection with the hiring of Steve Schaefer, who allegedly sexually assaulted another department member at a previous Clark County emergency services department, according to the Eagle. The assault happened before the hiring, and Wednling, Ashworth and Werner were accused of knowing about it, as well as other issues stemming from it.
Allegations of a hostile work environment and other issues also were being investigated. Those accusations led to employee resignations beginning in November 2018.
The latest resignations came following Monday's board meeting. Dozens of firefighters and paramedics with more than a dozen years of experience left their badges and keys with the trustees and walked out, the Eagle reports.
Several of the first responders who resigned had been scheduled to work shifts Tuesday, and it's not clear how the department will handle the employee exodus. Officials told the Eagle that there are department members "in training," but their training and experience aren't at the same level of those who walked out.
