23-year firefighter sentenced to probation

12/9/2013

A Toledo firefighter pleaded no contest and was found guilty Thursday of violating a protection order.

Thomas E. Williams, 59, was then sentenced by Toledo Municipal Court Judge William Connelly, Jr., to a suspended 180-day jail sentence and a year of inactive probation. He also was ordered to pay a $50 fine and court costs, and to have no contact with the victim in the case

On April 29, Mr. Williams pushed his way into the home of a woman who had obtained a civil-protection order against him. He has been with the fire division for more than 23 years. Charges of resisting arrest and obstructing official business were dismissed.

An internal investigation of the incident will be launched now that the criminal case against Mr. Williams, who remains on the job, has been concluded, Toledo fire Lt. Matt Hertzfeld, a division spokesman, said Friday.