Mercer County deputy fired over DUI

Mercer County Sheriff’s Office news

CELINA — Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey has fired a 25-year veteran deputy after he was arrested for drunk driving.

Deputy Mark Germann, who has been with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office since April 18, 1988, was terminated as a result of the drunk driving arrest. Germann had actually retired from the department on March 29 of this year, but was rehired as a Courthouse deputy and began as a new probationary employee on April 1.

Germann’s termination was the result of his arrest by a trooper from the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol for operating a vehicle while impaired. The arrest resulted in an immediate driver’s license suspension, as Germann refused to take a breath test.

“There is no dispute that Germann was driving the car and that he did take a portable breath test at the scene that tested his breath alcohol above the legal limit,” said Sheriff Grey. “A deputy sheriff must be held accountable; while I appreciate Mark’s service to Mercer County and his service previously as a DARE officer, I will not condone any Sheriff’s Office employee driving under the influence.”