LIBERTY — A predisciplinary hearing will take place Monday to determine whether Liberty Fire Capt. Cathy Macchione will be further demoted after accusations of her involvement with drug use and trading drugs within the fire department.

Macchione was aware that other firefighters were trading prescription medication but didn’t report the activity, according to the internal investigation report, hearing notice and list of charges provided to the newspaper by Liberty Township Law Director Cherry L. Poteet.

Macchione already has been demoted to captain from captain inspector and at Monday’s hearing, she could face the possibility of further punishment. Macchione may be demoted to firefighter and ineligible for a promotion for two years. She also could face a five-day unpaid suspension.

“This is her opportunity to explain herself,” said Poteet.

Fire Chief Gus Birch had no comment.

According to the hearing notice handed to Macchione by Birch, the predisciplinary hearing that was originally scheduled for June 1 was rescheduled to Monday at the request of the firefighters’ union attorney.

The investigation was initiated April 14 by interim police Chief Toby Meloro and handled by Capt. Ray Buhala, Detective Sgt. Mike Shuster and Detective G.T. Bednar, following the April 12 death of Liberty firefighter / paramedic John Beard.

According to documents compiled after the police investigation, Lt. Josh Cleland, Lt. Justin Graham and Capt. Chris Olson were found to be in violation of several Liberty Township Fire Department policies and Ohio laws. They were discharged from their positions.

Trustees in May accepted the immediate resignations of the two lieutenants, and a retirement and separation agreement with Olson.

According to documents from the internal investigation, investigators found that Beard and Macchione exchanged texts regarding her prescription for Klonopin. The documents also show her exchanging texts with Lt. Justin Graham.

Klonopin is often prescribed to ease anxiety and withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and other addictive substances.

Macchione, according to the list of charges, was found to be in violation of the Liberty Township Fire Department Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy, the conformance to law policy and the safety policy. They allege she committed malfeasance by providing her prescription medication Klonopin to another firefighter and committed nonfeasance by failing to report to the fire chief the trading and abuse of prescription medication among firefighters.

“Captain Macchione, a certified paramedic, failed to comply with the Ohio Administrative Code requirements for paramedics by failing to report to the Fire Chief or to the Ohio EMS Board other paramedics’ use and illegal acquisition of controlled substances of which she was aware … Captain Macchione knew that she had a duty to report wrongdoing, but she sought to avoid that duty by closing her eyes to what was going on,” the charges document states.

“Captain Macchione was partnered with Lieutenant Josh Cleland for three years. She stated in the interview that she didn’t want to know because the less she knew the better.”

bshiller@tribtoday.com