Jerusalem Township fire chief suspended

Jerusalem Township Fire Chief Harold Stanton

Jerusalem Township Fire Chief Harold Stanton has been suspended pending a hearing to determine if he should be terminated for allegedly allowing at least one non-firefighter to participate in emergency calls.

In a letter to the chief, informing him of his suspension, the trustees stated, "This action is potentially dangerous to the individual, significantly increases the township's potential liability, and violates Ohio law."

Trustee Joe Kiss said he was not at liberty to comment beyond the contents of the letter, which is dated March 5. 

"It's an unfortunate situation that's taken place," he said.

He explained that the public hearing is required by state law before Chief Stanton can be removed from office. It will be held at next week's regular trustees meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Chief Stanton and the other trustees, David Bench and Ron Sheahan, could not be reached immediately.

Chief Stanton was in the news in July, 2010, when he took charge of the scene at an industrial roof collapse in Fremont in which a worker was killed and another trapped under debris for four hours. The chief was in command as part of the Northwest Ohio Region 1 Collapse Search and Rescue Team, which was established after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.