Greene County firefighter resigns after alleged on-duty OVI incident

A Beavercreek Twp. firefighter resigned days after he was cited for backing a fire engine into a pillar at a fire station, allegedly while under the influence of alcohol.

Todd Lohse, 31, was cited for improper starting/backing and operating a vehicle while under the influence for the Dec. 2 incident at Fire Station No. 1 at 2195 Dayton Xenia Road, according to records with Fairborn Municipal Court.

Lohse submitted his resignation letter to the township on Dec. 5, and trustees accepted it at their meeting on Dec. 10, according to Beavercreek Twp. Administrator Alex Zaharieff.

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A Greene County deputy responded to the firehouse and filed the report.

Lohse was backing up engine 64 into a garage when the fire engine “side-swiped a pillar along side the township building,” according to the incident report.

The crash happened at approximately 11:15 a.m., and about two hours later, Lohse was required under township policy to take a breath test for blood-alcohol content, according to the report.

Lohse took two breath tests. The first indicated his blood-alcohol content was .102, and the second, administered 20 minutes later, indicated his BAC was .094, according to the report.

Lohse told his supervisor that he had consumed alcohol at a party the night before, according to the report.

Lohse was introduced as a new firefighter in the township’s fall/winter 2015 newsletter “Beavercreek in Touch.”

Lohse had previously worked as a volunteer for Kettering Fire while earning his fire and EMS certifications from Sinclair Community College, according to the newsletter.
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He worked part-time for Kettering then full-time on Springfield’s fire department before being hired by Beavercreek Twp., according to the newsletter.

We are seeking comment from Lohse for this report.

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