Firing reduced to unpaid suspension for Trumbull deputy's Facebook post

WARREN

A hearing officer has issued a 30-working-day unpaid suspension to a Trumbull County Sheriff’s deputy who purportedly wrote a Facebook post commenting on the man who died in police custody in Baltimore.

Maj. Tom Stewart of the sheriff’s office served as hearing officer for an appeal by Deputy Michael Geer of a finding by Maj. Harold Firster that Geer should be fired for the comments.

Following a hearing, Stewart informed Geer’s union representative May 22 that Stewart was reducing the proposed punishment from firing to a 30-working day unpaid suspension and sensitivity training. The unpaid suspension began Monday, Stewart said.

Atty. Randall Weltman of the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, who represents Geer, said by phone Wednesday the suspension is “outrageous,” and also will be appealed “through a grievance.”

Stewart also conducted the investigation, which resulted from a complaint to the sheriff’s office by Helen Rucker, a Warren council member, who provided the sheriff’s office with a copy of the post.

Read the post and more about the decision in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.