Tuscarawas County sheriff fires dispatcher accused of stealing gun money from coworkers
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ A former 911 dispatch officer at the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office is facing charges of theft, forgery and three counts of petty theft.
Sheriff Orvis Campbell said he fired Timothy R. Willer after learning of allegations Willer had taken money from people for gun-related purchases and failed to deliver the promised goods, firearms parts and ammunition.
"Before we ever heard about this, one of the other employees bugged him enough that they got paid back," he said.
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Willer, 28, falsely told others he had a federal firearms license and could get them merchandise at low prices, Campbell said.
"They just trusted their coworker; he was there with the forms," the sheriff said.
Two victims were other dispatchers, one was a new deputy and the other was a law enforcement officer from Tuscarawas County, he said.
He said two of the dispatchers want to become law enforcement officers and wanted ammunition to practice shooting.
Michigan resident Timothy Willer returned to Ohio
Willer was extradited from Michigan and booked into the county jail Thursday. Court records do not identify an attorney for the defendant, who is listed as a resident of Twin Lake, Michigan.
Campbell said the victims have been repaid.
Sheriff's Detective Lt. Adam Fisher said the total loss to the four victims is $5,404.78.
Since Willer’s indictment, two additional victims came forward, according to Fisher.
"One indicated he was out $1,600 and the other did not give an amount," Fisher wrote in an email. "Neither party gave a statement to the Sheriff’s Office and have since decided not to cooperate due to the fact that they have also been paid back."
Campbell said Willer showed victims emails saying that the paperwork for the supplies was being processed.
Willer was fired Dec. 22, according to Fisher.
"He came in and offered a resignation," Campbell said. "I told him I was not accepting his resignation, that we were going to be terminating him."
Willer did not attend a scheduled disciplinary hearing and subsequently moved to Michigan, Campbell said.
Willer was employed as a 911 dispatcher for just under two years, Fisher said.
Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.
On Twitter: @nmolnarTR
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Timothy Willer charged with theft, accused of stealing from coworkers
