For the second time in less than five months, Monroe Township Fire Chief Greg Lang has been placed on paid administrative leave after township trustees voted to sideline him at a special meeting on April 30. Trustees ordered Lang to turn in all township property, including his keys, township vehicle, laptop, passwords and cellphone, and tapped Assistant Chief Michael Welch to step in as acting chief. The move comes on the heels of a December incident that led to criminal charges later resolved in court, and it lands as the township brings in an outside investigator and quietly places another firefighter on leave.
Trustees Met Behind Closed Doors And Ordered A Probe
Meeting minutes obtained by FOX19 show trustees went into executive session on April 30 to consider “the employment, demotion and/or discipline of a public employee.” After emerging, they voted unanimously to put Lang on paid administrative leave. The minutes say Lang was told to leave his keys, township vehicle, laptop, passwords and cellphone at the township building. Trustees also hired Bethel Township administrator Holly Isaacs to conduct an internal investigation while Welch handles day-to-day operations.
December Arrest And Court Outcome
On Dec. 3, 2025, just before 8:30 p.m., New Richmond police were called to the 100 block of Compass Court and arrested Lang on two counts of domestic violence, WCPO reported. Police said the dispute involved Lang, his wife and daughters confronting a homeowner over an alleged affair with a coworker, and that one person suffered minor injuries, including a dog bite. Court records show Lang pleaded not guilty and was later acquitted, and he returned to duty in March, according to WLWT.
Acting Chief Named As Another Firefighter Put On Leave
Trustees once again named Assistant Chief Michael Welch as acting chief during Lang’s latest absence and approved hiring an outside administrator to carry out the investigation, FOX19 reported. Meeting records also show trustees held a follow-up session on May 8 and placed Firefighter-EMT Emily (Hope) Rodriguez on paid administrative leave, though those minutes do not spell out why she was suspended.
Officials Offer Little Public Explanation
Calls, texts and emails to township officials seeking an explanation have gone unanswered, and the minutes and personnel files reviewed by WLWT provide little more than formal motions and votes. Reporters say the records lay out the steps trustees took but do not detail any underlying allegations or evidence that led to the decisions.
Legal And Governance Implications
The trustees cited an exception in Ohio’s open meetings law that allows public bodies to meet in executive session to discuss appointment, employment, discipline or investigations involving public employees. The statute spells out those narrow reasons and the procedures for closing a meeting to the public. See Ohio Revised Code §121.22 for the exact language on executive sessions. For now, the repeat suspensions, the decision to bring in an outside investigator and the reshuffling at the top of the fire department leave residents with unanswered questions about oversight and staffing while the internal review plays out.
