City fires police officer involved in bar fight

Allegedly brandished gun in Willoughby

Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail has fired a city police officer who was arrested in late August in a Downtown Willoughby bar fight.

Officer Todd Gauntner, 32, was arrested after he allegedly brandished a gun during a bar fight Aug. 24 at Frank and Tony’s Place, 38107 2nd St. Gauntner is facing a misdemeanor using weapons while intoxicated charge in Willoughby Municipal Court.

Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer on Sept. 10 imposed a 15-day suspension related to that incident. The following day he recommended that Gail fire Gauntner, according to Gail’s termination letter. A pre-disciplinary conference was held Sept. 13.

Gail found Gauntner violated rules of conduct unbecoming of an officer, neglect of duty, unsatisfactory performance, use of alcohol off duty, and use of weapons.

“You initiated the incident with the two men who were alleged members of the Hells Angels organization by making disparaging comments to them,” Gail wrote. “You also had the opportunity to remove yourself from the situation but failed to do so. You admittedly had a loaded weapon in a bar and had been consuming alcohol. You pointed the loaded weapon at numerous people in the bar and admittedly came close to losing your weapon in the subsequent disturbance. You put yourself and many bar patrons at a significant risk of substantial harm due to your reckless behavior.”

Gail wrote that Gauntner’s actions discredited him as a Euclid police officer and she no longer has confidence that he can perform his duties successfully.

Gauntner’s termination was effective Sept. 17. His misdemeanor case is still open in Willoughby Municipal Court. His case was continued Sept. 20 according to court records. He is next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 1.

This is not the first time Gauntner has faced legal troubles with a gun during his time with the Euclid police department. In 2015 he was suspended for 90 days after firing shots at Sims Park in Euclid while off-duty on Thanksgiving. A Euclid Municipal Court judge fined him $235 and ordered him to attend counseling.

In the same month he was arrested in a bar fight Gauntner was honored at the annual Silver & Gold, Inc. awards for saving the life of a man shot 16 times in January. Those lifesaving efforts were also singled out by Gail during her 2018 State of the City address.

Gauntner had been a member of the department since November 2013.

Gauntner