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
Hope your vacation was worth it! I don’t know who will now employ a low life such as yourself but no matter what kind of job you may get it will be too good for you! Get a steppin’ Santuomo
Thank God!!!!!!!!! I’m tickled pink that he is gone and I certainly hope that the termination sticks. I hope that Civil Service doesn’t give him his job back and I hope that he isn’t able to pursue this thru the courts.
My pets are really pleased about this news.
Good! The best news I have had in a long time. I am so sick of hearing about people abusing/killing children and animals. I think they all need to be punished in the same way they hurt their victims whether it’s an human or ANIMAL!
I would like to rejoice! This idiot is gone, thank you Columbus Fire Department. I still believe his legal punishment should have been worse, but I am ecstatic that this worthless piece of garbage will no longer be a firefighter
Animals cannot dial 911. It is up to us as civilized society to protect them.
The animal cruelty laws need to be reworked.
Plus this is one less Coleman has to bag when his tax increase fails.
Well, there is good news today!! On
behalf of my 70 lb Lab and my neighbor’s
dog’s and animal owner’s everywhere I
am very happy to hear that the Columbus
Public Safety Director went with the
Columbus Fire Chief’s recommendation
to fire that man! I also hope that he will not receive any pension at all from the Columbus Division of Fire!
I would like to see him tied to a pole
and let the neighbor dog’s do their business on him! P.S. Thank You
to everyone that emailed, sent letter’s
and called both the fire chief and
Columbus Safety Director, our voice’s
need to be heard. Have a great day!
HE’S AS DUMB AS HE LOOKS IN HIS PICTURE.
I SURE HOPE HE ENJOYED THAT VACATION!
STUPID FOOL
Good deal. Obviously this man has no consideration for living things. He should not be a public servant. Killing your pet is just sick and I hope that he realizes that. Glad he had to pay a big price his job now maybe he will loose his house and everything he has.
Awesome!! I would not want him to come to my house for a fire and leave my dogs to die.
Merely being terminated doesn’t come close to what this kind of slime deserves.
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