LIBERTY TWP, Ohio - Liberty township officials confirm that Captain Kathy Macchihone, the second in command at the fire department, is on administrative leave as the department is rocked by an investigation of drug use.

As first reported on Wednesday, Lt. Justin Graham, Lt. Josh Cleland and Capt. Chris Olson had been placed on administrative leave due to an investigation of alleged drug use on the job at the Belmont Avenue station.  
A report on the investigation states that hundreds of messages between the three documented the trading, sharing and purchasing of prescription drugs and illegal drugs among members of the Liberty Fire Department.
"We're obviously very disappointed and very surprised that something like that was going on in the fire department,"  Arnie Clebone, Township Trustee said.

Clebone says the township acted swiftly in placing the firefighters on administrative leave.
"And then subsequent to that we asked for their resignation, and if they weren't going to resign we were prepared to fire them,"
The report also revealed that in April, firefighter John Beard had been taken to the hospital for a drug overdose and that he later died at home.
The report states that before his death, Beard, Olson and Graham tried to cover up the overdose and had agreed to tell everyone that Beard had a panic attack.
No charges have been filed. Liberty police Chief Toby Meloro says an investigation is continuing. Clebone says it leaves the fire department with four fewer firefighters. "we'll have to take action to fill those positions, yes," he said.

The townships Law Director, Cherry Poteet said information from the investigation was being referred to the Drug Task Force for review.