Discipline for police chief still pending

More than a month after his drunken-drive charge was dismissed, Shawnee Hills Police Chief Russell Baron has not been disciplined for driving a government vehicle to a bar and consuming alcohol.

Baron, who was off-duty, was charged Feb. 6 with improper display of a license plate and operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Charges against the chief were dropped in Delaware County Municipal Court on March 12 for lack of evidence. A Delaware County sheriff’s office deputy recorded Baron’s blood-alcohol level at 0.04 percent after stopping him in Concord Township for the plate violation. In Ohio, a motorist is presumed to be impaired at 0.08 percent.

Baron said this week that he expects to face some kind of discipline, but has no idea when.

“We do have a policy that we are not to consume alcohol in a police vehicle,” Baron said. He was driving an unmarked police vehicle when he was pulled over, and has admitted to having had one beer at a Dublin bar.

Village Mayor Pat Monahan, who oversees the police department, referred calls for comment to Brian Zets, the village solicitor, who did not return multiple calls for comment.

Baron is the second chief in the small Delaware County village to face recent discipline.

Sean LeFever lost his job about two years ago after pleading guilty to one count of theft in office, stemming from an accusation that he improperly paid himself during special duty assignments.