DiPietro dismissed from township force

MIAMI TWP., Ohio (WDTN) - The face of the Miami Township Police Dept. has been fired. 

Miami Township Trustees terminated the employment of Major John DiPietro at about 2:30 p.m., Feb. 13, 2013. DiPietro was charged with six violations and found guilty of five.

Major John DiPietro and his attorney concluded their portion just before 11:30 a.m.,  and the township trustees continued to meet in executive session.

This was the final of several hearings that began in late November 2012 when the Montgomery County concluded its two month long investigation.  Trustee President Deborah Preston said she and the board hoped to come to a decision today.

DiPietro is accused of treating a teenager improperly after her arrest. A Montgomery County Sheriff's Department report said DiPietro was alone in the sally port at the Miami Township police department when he hosed the naked girl down. She was being decontaminated after officers pepper sprayed her during a shoplifting investigation July 12, 2012.

No criminal charges were filed against DiPietro, but the hearing is part of an internal investigation that will determine his fate with Miami Township police.

Attorney Richard Lipowicz said Perry Township Police Chief Bob Bowman testified today on behalf of DiPietro as a character witness and expert in internal investigations.

"Chief Bowman brought up a number of issues he had with the Montgomery County Sheriff's investigation," said Lipowicz.  "He used the term "confirmation bias"  where you go out looking for a result, then try and justify that result."

Lipowicz said Bowman specifically referenced within the report where it reads about DiPietro's decision to not involve a female officer who was present that July day but on light duty, as well as his decision to not allow the young lady to use the employee locker room to shower.

"In this case the young lady had to be pepper sprayed in order to be subdued.  Obviously that is a person who has violent tendencies and Major DiPietro decided to not put the female officer in that position where she could face further injury," said Lipowicz.  "Furthermore, Chief Bowman testified today there is no police chief in this country who would ever allow someone who has been arrested into the employee locker room to shower.  That is a private area where police officers keep their personal belongings, including firearms, and there isn't any video recording equipment."

Lipowicz also said trustees have deprived DiPietro of a fair hearing by not requiring Miami Township Chief of Police Chris Krug and and former township administrator Greg Hanahan be present during today's hearing.

"We were hoping Mr. Hanahan would appear today to shed some light on how this matter all got started and the reason behind it getting started," said Lipowicz, who wouldn't go into further detail.  "That is a question for the trustees."

DiPietro has filed for a disability pension.

2 NEWS will continue to follow this developing story will bring you the very latest when it becomes available.