Warren patrolman terminated from employment for failing fitness test

Warren patrolman terminated from employment for failing fitness test

WARREN

Patrolman David Gallagher was terminated from his job at the Warren Police Department Thursday as a result of failing a “fitness for duty” evaluation conducted by a physician.

The termination followed disciplinary measures taken against him in September for being intoxicated while on duty.

According to personnel files, then-Lt. Eric Merkel detected the odor of alcohol on or about Gallagher on Aug. 23, 2012, and had him tested.

Gallagher tested 0.095, which is above the legal limit of 0.08 under Ohio law, and he was suspended without pay for 30 days.

In September Gallagher signed a last-chance agreement requiring him to remain free of any departmental policy violations for three years or his employment would be terminated.

Because of remarks Gallagher made to supervisors regarding medical problems he was having, officials had him evaluated by a physician for his fitness to perform his duties, Police Chief Tim Bowers said.

The April evaluation determined that Gallagher was not physically fit to carry out his duties, and Enzo Cantalamessa, safety-service director ordered his employment terminated effective Thursday.

Gallagher also violated terms of his last-chance agreement for calling off sick despite not having any sick days available at the time, Bowers said.