Firefighter Who Shot, Dumped Dogs Is Terminated
NBC 4
UPDATE: The city’s public safety director announces his decision to terminate firefighter David Santuomo from the Columbus Division of Fire.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The city’s public safety director announced his decision Thursday to terminate firefighter David Santuomo from the Columbus Division of Fire.
It’s a story NBC 4 has been reporting on for months.
The Columbus Division of Fire received many complaints and concerns after the conviction of Columbus firefighter David Santuomo.
The division completed its internal investigation, and Fire Chief Ned Pettus recommended termination Thursday, July 9.
Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown reviewed Pettus’ recommendation and upheld it Thursday, July 16.
“After careful consideration of the relevant facts in the matter of firefighter David Santuomo, it is my decision to uphold the recommendation of Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. and terminate firefighter David Santuomo from the position of firefighter for the City of Columbus, Ohio, Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire,“ Brown said in a statement to the media.
The termination is effective immediately, Department of Public Safety Executive Assistant Antone White said.
Santuomo has 10 days to appeal the decision via civil service, if he chooses, according to White.
Santuomo pleaded guilty to two charges of animal cruelty and one count of possessing criminal tools Wednesday, June 24. All three are misdemeanor charges.
Judge Harlan Hale sentenced the firefighter to 90 days in jail, five years of probation and a five-year ban on having or living with an animal.
Hale said Santuomo would not be allowed to own firearms and was required to get alcohol, drug and mental-health counseling.
Santuomo’s sentence also included writing an apology letter that will appear in International Fire Fighters Magazine and 200 hours of community service.
Local 67 said earlier the misdemeanor crimes were not an issue of job performance.
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Reader Reactions
In Ohio, dogs are property in the eyes of the law, to all people.
There is NO reason to mistreat dogs, even though they are property.
BuckeyeRob 23 July 2009 Thu. 10:58
“ ... Dogs may be property to some people ....
—-
ALL the below is correct.
Repeating, there is NO reason to mistreat dogs, even though they are property.
BuckeyeRob 23 July 2009 Thu. 10:58
“... but they do have feelings. They can be scared, cold, feel pain, etc. ....“
If you were sick enough to do something like this, why would you brag about it and why would you dispose of the bodies and tell where you did it? This man is really sick.
Why wouldn’t he have just taken the dogs to the shelter and said he couldn’t take care of them anymore? Dogs may be property to some people but they do have feelings. They can be scared, cold, feel pain, etc. Just put yourself in their ‘shoes’.
This guy is sick in the head…always has been. What a disgrace he is to his father…a retired firefighter.
Pack some lube for the pookey, we’ll see how tough you are when “Bubba” wants to snuggle up with you.
I was one of the hundreds of emails to the fire chief. This is not just any guy, he’s a firefighter. Firefighters and policeman are in a position of authority and TRUST and, therefore, are subject to a higher degree of accountability than the average joe. D*mn right he shouldn’t be a firefighter any more. I’ve got no problem with him making a living, but I sure as h*ll don’t trust him to be the guy I’m relying on to save me or my kids when my house is burning down. And I’m pretty sure most of his co-workers found him pretty disgusting to work next to, as well.
Though the killing of the dog was an offense, it was not
murder[/QUOTE
2903.02 Murder.
(A) No person shall purposely cause the death of another ....
(B) No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the offender’s committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree ....
(C) ....
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of murder ....
I think it’s kinda stupid that this was the only thing he got for shooting those poor dogs. When Michael Vick was on trial for dog fighting it was a federal matter and the dogs weren’t even killed. This guy murders his dogs and get basically a slap on the hand
(From other media)
Daryl {DAR} Fri 17 July 2009 ~ 1310 -0400
... dogs ...i thought pets were property.
JAG: Your belief is correct.
DAR:
... as a father trying to raise my 3-kids. i’d say the dogs have more rights than i do as dad….
JAG: Two for two ... correct again. Obtusely bake to death (well done) your own helpless infant in a vehicle in Hamilton or Clermont Counties in Ohio and you may easily avoid been charged with a criminal offense. It helps to be White, have advanced schooling, and a full time job.
CAVEAT: Do not attempt to bake for an hour or so (rare) your own helpless infant in a vehicle in early morning hours in Montgomery County, if you’re Black and have a part-time job. You may be charged with child endangering.
I have confirmed with more than one professional that at times dogs DO have more rights than children.
JAG 2009-07-17 1417 -0400
JAG 2009-07-20 0038 -0400
Are you aware of a firefighter who has acted as you predict in your post?
Lt Mall July 19, 2009 Sun. 9:14 am {text omitted)
Sir, do you have a citation for any firefighter in any jurisdiction who at any time has conducted h(im)(er)self as you describe below?
09-07-19-2324
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Lt Mall 19 July 2009 Sun. 09:14
What if he has a date and a house with occupants is burning, is he going to shoot then or let them burn because he has to get the fire out to go hook up?
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