COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The fire chief recommended a Columbus firefighter who admitted he fatally shot his dogs and dumped them at a fire station be terminated.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
The Columbus Division of Fire received many complaints and concerns after the conviction of firefighter David Santuomo.
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.
The division has completed its internal investigation, and Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. was to make the decision on the 12-year veteran’s possible job loss or reprimand.
The chief’s recommendation was to be reviewed next week by the Director of Public Safety.
Local 67 said earlier the misdemeanor crimes were not an issue of job performance.
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