Delphos fires longtime worker amid claims of theft

DELPHOS - A longtime Delphos city employee was fired Wednesday for theft. The firing comes nearly three months after the former streets and maintenance foreman was placed on administrative leave.

David Metzger, an employee with the city since 1980, was fired for multiple instances of taking city property, according to records in his personnel file. Metzger, 48, is accused of taking fuel on two occasions, steel pipe, a motor, a grinder, a sprayer, work benches and electrical wire, the records said.

"An internal investigation was conducted. As result of the investigation it was determined the employee's position with the city would be terminated," said Gregory Berquist, the city's safety-service director. "The employee has appealed the determination. With that information we have an obligation to protect the employee's interests so we will not be making any public statements to ensure his interests are protected."

The Delphos Board of Control made the decision to fire Metzger on Monday. The termination took effect Wednesday. Metzger was placed on paid administrative leave on April 25. City Solicitor Glen Lause began an internal investigation in June culminating in the termination.

Metzger could not be reached at his home in Delphos for comment. Attorney William Kluge, who represented Metzger during a predisciplinary hearing June 24, also could not be reached for comment.

Berquist said Metzger was appealing his termination to the Delphos Civil Service Commission.

The theft allegations date back to 2006 when other city employees accused Metzger of taking containers filled with diesel fuel for his personal use, the records said. Other instances in 2006 through this year also involve accusations by other city employees that Metzger took city property for his personal use.

In one allegation outlined in a report prepared by Lause, employees observed Metzger welding sections of steel pipe taken from a city storage facility. Metzger reportedly admitted taking the pipe and turning it into a chimney on his garage.

Metzger told a Van Wert County Sheriff's Office deputy that Berquist gave him permission to take the pipe, the report said. Berquist denied giving Metzger the go-ahead to take the pipe.

Van Wert Sheriff Stan Owens confirmed that his office has been involved in the case as well.

"We did an investigation on that individual," Owens said. "All of our results of that investigation have been forwarded to the county Prosecutor's Office. There has been no grand jury action at this point."

The theft allegations were not the only disciplinary issues in Metzger's personnel file.

Last year, Metzger reportedly made belittling comments about the ability of women to do work in the department.

"At a finance committee meeting on March 13, 2007, you made comments regarding the abilities of women to do the functions within your department," Berquist wrote in a May 9, 2007, letter to Metzger that recommended sensitivity training. "The comments are not the opinion of the city or the administration."

In June 2006, Metzger was overheard in the dispatch area of the Delphos Police Department describing an offer for a sexual favor. The comments were made in the presence of several employees, including a female dispatcher, personnel file records said.

Metzger was reissued the city's policy on sexual harassment and required to review the training tape, the records said.

The only other disciplinary note in Metzger's file was from July 5, 1991, when he was given a verbal warning for not wearing the recommended uniform shirt.