http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/21/firedog.html?sid=101

Firefighter who killed dogs is fired

Some notes of interest in this article.

The Dispatch and WBNS-TV (Channel 10) have learned that Santuomo sent a threatening text message to a fellow firefighter because he thought a Columbus police officer had turned him in to the Capital Area Humane Society.

The message said, “You realize that there is a funeral in CPD’s future,” according to the internal-affairs investigative report.

Franklin County Municipal Judge Harland H. Hale said today that Santuomo, 43, will be expected to serve his jail sentence all at once. Hale had written in a sentencing memo that the firefighter could serve the time in 10-day increments beginning in September but only if he was still employed.

Chief recommends firing Columbus firefighter who shot his dogs

I hate… HATE… when a letter of apology is forced from a defendant.

Nothing says your sentiments are authentic like an order from a judge to say them. Who honestly believes he’s sorry? Besides for being caught…

My sentiments exactly! I fucking hate that. What are these judges thinking? How about an appropriately harsh sentence, instead? And why is he being given the opportunity to break up the 90 days? WHY does he deserve that? WHY?

Let’s see…the neighbors offered, he could have dropped them back off at the humane society…he could have just left them on the side of the road, for fuck’s sake…he BRAGGED to his coworkers…yup, all signs point to this sadistic fucker simply wanted the adrenaline rush of killing something. Asshole. I hope he is attacked by a rabid pit bull. Or me.

Santuomo had worked briefly as a Franklin County deputy and part-time Westerville firefighter before joining the Columbus Division of Fire in 1996. His personnel files since then show that he’s been verbally reprimanded several times, including for being late for work six times.

He also was reprimanded three times for making discourteous comments to co-workers and the public, including twice for broadcasts that were deemed inappropriate from the dispatching center. In 2007, Santuomo was disciplined for allowing his basic Emergency Medical Technician license to expire. The license is required by the state of Ohio and the union contract. Supervisors gave him an extension — and access to patients — until May 2009.

Court records show he currently faces trial for a misdemeanor criminal charge of passing a bad check, for a check that bounced to the Ohio Auto Club. His driver’s license also was suspended for failing to pay a traffic fine in February. In that case, he was granted driving privileges for trips to the gas station, groceries and to and from work.

Nothing says your sentiments are authentic like an order from a judge to say them. Who honestly believes he’s sorry? Besides for being caught…

A judge has given a 90-day jail sentence to an Ohio firefighter accused of killing his dogs to avoid boarding them while he went on vacation.

Forty-three-year-old David Santuomo of Columbus pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal tool a homemade silencer he used on the end of a rifle.

At least he will pay a little. I am sure it is not over for him.

Seriously, firefighters depend on good strong character traits. One must be able to make sound decisions during a crisis. That’s why the screening process is so great with these departments. I sure don’t want to be in an emergency situation with some guy who thinks shooting his dogs is the best solution.

It makes no sense, unless his motive was just to KILL something – anything.

I think that might be the case. I mean yeah it can get expensive to board your dogs, but if your already planning a big vacation, what’s a couple hundred extra bux. Then he finds out he has another option, the neighbors for free!!! Sick son of a bitch is he!