Sheriff not pusuing complaint against township investigator

MADISON TOWNSHIP – The Licking County Sheriff’s Office has chosen not to pursue a complaint against Steve Little, a consultant hired to perform an investigation of the Madison Township Fire Department.

Fire Chief Darrin Decker said after a Tuesday meeting that he had made a complaint against Little last week because Little had refused to allow an interview that was part of his investigation to be digitally recorded.

On Friday, Decker clarified that, after he made the complaint, he received a call from the sheriff’s office the following day and was told that the office was not pursuing an investigation.

The Advocate had earlier requested a copy of Decker’s complaint from the Licking County Sheriff’s Office but was told there was no complaint on file in regard to Little.

Little’s investigation into the fire department began after an efficiency report he completed in December indicated that there might have been incidents of mismanagement, bullying, sexual harassment and assault within the Madison Township Fire Department.

Karen Barger, chairwoman of the board of trustees in Madison Township, said Little is finishing up the report. The trustees expect to have the final copy any day.