Public employees who face disciplinary action at work can receive tens of thousands of dollars while they are under investigation and off the job. An I-Team probe of local governments found some workers continued to collect their paychecks from home for up to eight months.

The most costly case locally involved former Shelby County Sheriff Dean Kimpel. In 2011, Kimpel was charged with sexual battery after a female deputy alleged that he assaulted her at her home. The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Kimpel from his job with pay during the investigation.

"I think it was terrible," said Sidney resident Ramona Olding. Olding said the case went on much longer than most people expected. "They said it was going to be a month or two and it drug on for eight months," Olding said.

Kimpel eventually resigned after pleading guilty to a charge of misusing government computers. Other criminal charges were then dropped in a plea agreement. Kimpel, though, was allowed to keep the $60,424.87 he collected in pay while he was off the job on suspension.

In January of 2013 Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed suit on behalf of the Shelby County commissioners to have Kimpel's pay under suspension returned to the county.

"A lot of people feel his punishment was very light and the least he could do is pay the money back," said Julie Ehemann, Shelby County Commissioner. Kimpel's attorney declined comment on the lawsuit.

The Shelby County case is among dozens of administrative actions taken by local governments that saw employees under investigation sent home to continue receiving their paychecks.

Using publc records, our I-Team found a long list of people who were placed on paid leave including former Kettering Fire Chief Robert Miles. He was charged with suspicion of drunk driving.  Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said Miles was paid $30,000 while off the job. 

"There is a lot of money that was paid while on administrative leave. I'm not going to dispute that and I can understand why you're asking the question, but also there was the potential for larger dollars as well,"  Schwieterman said.

Public employees consider workers innocent until proven guilty. Miles ended up resigning and pleaded to a lesser charge.

Then, there is former Miami Township Police Major John DiPietro, who made more than $18,000 while off the job and under investigation.  DiPietro was eventually terminated and is now appealing his case.