SHAWNEE TWP., Allen County, Ohio (WLIO) — A hearing was held Monday to determine the future of the suspended Shawnee Township Fire Department chief.
The Shawnee Township Trustees conducted a termination hearing for Fire Chief Austin Miller following an investigation that resulted in three charges.
According to the investigation, the first charge involved insubordination toward township trustees for failing to complete assigned tasks within the given timeline. Those tasks included directing firefighters not to play pickleball in public view during business hours, terminating a probationary firefighter, creating a savings plan for a new fire department building, and adding lettering to the chief’s vehicle.
The second charge involved allegations that Miller was dishonest with the investigator during the investigation related to the probationary firefighter.
“Chief Miller understood that firefighter Steyer had failed to pass the requisite test, and because he failed to pass the requisite test, I think it was six times whatever the number of times was, he wasn't going to be able to take the test again without redoing school, and the decision had been made that that was not going to be permitted, therefore meaning that firefighter Steyer was going to have to be separated from the Township. So to tell me that the reason the probationary period had been extended was because firefighter Steyer had more to learn, was not truthful,” says Catherine Burgett, conducted the investigation into Miller.
The third charge involved an alleged failure to investigate or pursue claims of misconduct or harassment. That allegation centers on a firefighter using a racial slur and claims that Miller instructed another individual to alter a disciplinary action report by removing the specific word and replacing it with a softer term.
Attorneys representing Miller argued that township trustees hired the investigator and participated in interviews during the investigation, raising concerns about whether they can fairly decide the outcome of the termination hearing.
“If the judge gave testimony against a criminal defendant, we all say there's no way that judge can decide that case. We have three judges in front of us all who gave testimony against chief Miller, but we're supposed to believe that they're going to be impartial and they're not going to use their personal knowledge of the facts against them, and that's a problem. It's not even if they can reach the proper result. Due process requires that there be no pre judgment. We know that there's pre judgment. We know that they've demanded his resignation already. I mean, that's the definition of somebody that can't be impartial," said one of them during the hearing.
According to Shawnee Township Firefighters Local #2550, all charges against Miller have been dropped. The union said it is excited to welcome Chief Miller back to work and looks forward to moving ahead together while focusing on serving the community and rebuilding relationships strained during the process.
Separately from the hearing, Miller’s attorneys have filed a complaint in federal court alleging violations of his 14th Amendment rights. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 in damages.
