Circleville, OH – December 10, 2024
Fire Captain Micah Reese is no longer employed by the City of Circleville following a series of events stemming from a failure to respond appropriately to a resident’s request for medical care. His termination, initially decided on March 14, 2024, was later appealed and partially overturned by an independent arbitrator.
After an investigation earlier this year, Captain Reese was dismissed from his position. Exercising his rights under the collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the City of Circleville, Reese appealed the termination to an independent arbitrator. Both the city and the union presented their cases during a hearing on September 11, 2024.
On November 7, 2024, the arbitrator issued a decision that upheld the city’s determination that Captain Reese’s actions warranted discipline but deemed the termination overly severe. Instead, the arbitrator reduced the penalty to a three-day suspension. Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the arbitrator’s decision was binding.
Following the ruling, city leaders decided that it was in the best interest of the Circleville Fire Department and the community to seek a mutually agreeable resolution to Captain Reese’s employment. Mayor Michelle L. Blanton called an emergency City Council meeting on December 10, 2024, where council members authorized the mayor to negotiate a settlement agreement. On the 10th City council voted in favor of that agreement and a over 100,000 dollar settlement was agreed upon.
City officials have stated that further details will be shared after the agreement is finalized.
“The City of Circleville remains committed to providing the highest level of professional service to our residents,” the city said in a statement. “We will continue to hold all employees, particularly those in leadership positions, to the highest standards of conduct to maintain trust and confidence in our Fire Department.”
