A bartender in central Ohio called police to report that a drunk patron left the bar and drove away in his car.
/ File
SHELBY, OHIO -- One could argue a central Ohio bartender was doing the right thing by calling the cops on a drunk driver, but having good morals ended up getting her fired.
Twyla DeVito was a bartender at the American Legion Post in Shelby when she called police to report that a patron she had been serving had left the bar and drove away in his car.
Police found the drunken driver, a regular bar patron and board member of the American Legion, with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit. They got to him before he did any damage to himself or others, but when they found him he had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of beer, according to WMFD - Mansfield. He was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
The Shelby Police Chief supports the concerned bartender's actions, but DeVito's boss felt differently, firing her within two days.
According to reports, the commander of the American Legion told DeVito she did not follow protocol and, therefore, had to fire her. He claimed it was nothing personal and that he thought what she did was morally right. However, it is bad for business to have customers worry about being arrested when they leave the establishment, according to the commander himself.
DeVito said the Legion did not have protocol when it came to dealing with intoxicated departing patrons.
While there is no state law in Ohio that requires bartenders to report drunk drivers, DeVito stands by her actions. She says she would do it again if she could.
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