By John Kiesewetter
Enquirer staff writer

HAMILTON - The executive director of the Butler County Veterans Service Commission has been placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation.

George D. Boettjer was suspended July 2, said his wife, Mona. He has supervised the agency for about 18 months, she said.

Boettjer and Anthony Marchetti, commission president, could not be reached for comment. The office serves about 34,000 Butler County veterans.

Douglas Duckett, county personnel director, said his office was asked to investigate "some disputes within the office." Duckett would not discuss specifics, except to say the issues were not of a criminal or sexual nature.

Boettjer was told not to return to the veterans' office, at the Government Services Building downtown, "because we needed a chance to ask people questions," Duckett said.

Members of the five-person Veterans Service Commission will meet with Duckett on Thursday, a commission employee said Monday. Office manager Wanda Charleville has been supervising the commission office.

"I expect a resolution in a week or two, at the maximum," Duckett said Monday.

The suspension became public Monday when veterans complained to Butler County commissioners.

Fred Dickmeyer, a Hanover Township civil engineer and Vietnam War veteran, told commissioners that his privacy has been jeopardized because Boettjer's computer hard drive was taken during the investigation.

"Our rights and confidential information have been blatantly violated," said Dickmeyer, who was named the county "Veteran of the Year" last year. He was so upset about Boettjer's suspension that he "almost brought the award back today," he said.

County commissioners said Monday they had no power over the Veterans Service Commission, an independent board appointed by Judge David Niehaus.

"As much as we'd like to help, we don't have any authority," said commission President Chuck Furmon. He suggested veterans contact the county prosecutor's office.

Commissioner Michael A. Fox praised Boettjer's "extraordinary" work for the county, saying he had doubled the number of veterans served by the office and improved staffers' attitudes.

Fox said Boettjer refused to discuss his situation when Fox called him last week.

"Until a month ago, my impression of that office was that George was doing a good job," Fox said.

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E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com