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CLEARCREEK TWP., Warren County — Township trustees sided with firefighters ordered by township management not to attend funeral services April 9 for two Hamilton County firefighters killed in the line of duty due to a no-contact order separating Chief Bernie Becker from his staff.

Clearcreek Twp. firefighters received a note from township trustees with paychecks issued last week acknowledging "a different course of action might have been more appropriate" after firefighters — whose allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power by Becker have triggered an internal investigation — were left thinking they were barred from wearing their uniforms to services for Capt. Robin Broxterman and Firefighter Brian Schira, two Colerain Twp. firefighters killed April 4 fighting a house fire.

While Administrator Dennis Pickett wasn't formally disciplined, Trustee Ed Wade said Pickett was told "in no uncertain terms" to consult trustees before making a decision he had any inkling the trustees might want to weigh in on.

"We were very aggravated with him," Wade said of Pickett last week in a phone interview.

In March, Pickett ordered Becker to report to township offices and firefighters to stay away from Becker while Police Chief John Terrill investigated allegations of "improper touching, inappropriate behavior, hostile work environment, abuse of power and lack of operational knowledge, skills and abilities during emergency incidents" made by the firefighters' union against Becker.

The department fights fires in Springboro and Clearcreek Twp.

Pickett said he told Acting Chief Tim Simpson that on-duty firefighters wouldn't be permitted to attend because Becker, a former member of the Colerain department, would be representing Clearcreek Twp.

"So, Chief Becker will not be showing up at incidents even if he desperately wants to and thinks his input can save lives and property. Conversely, the department will not be showing up at events where it is most appropriate for the chief to be the representative," Pickett said in an e-mail to the fire department secretary.

Off-duty township firefighters attended the funeral out of uniform. Firefighters said they fielded questions from other departments about the lack of uniformed representation from Clearcreek Twp., compared to numerous other departments.

"I'm extremely proud to be a Clearcreek Twp. firefighter. That day I was not," Firefighter Joel Logson told trustees at an April meeting.

After the meeting, trustees said they were looking forward to a report from Terrill, the first step toward resolving the dispute and restoring normalcy in the department.

"I hope that happens very soon," Wade said last week.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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