Liberty fire capt. faces disciplinary hearing

Liberty township Fire Department Captain, Cathy Macchione, the second in command at the department, faces a disciplinary hearing next week as the investigation continues into alleged drug use by some of the fire employees.
Machchione's hearing is set for Monday where she could face further demotion and unpaid leave. She's accused of not reporting alleged drug use among fire employees to the fire chief.
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.
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.