His firing came 11 days after the university placed him on leave while it launched an investigation into informal allegations against Martinsen of hostile work environment, retaliation and misuse of the university credit card. Wright State said it will continue to investigate the allegations.
Martinsen had also been informally accused of sexual harassment, but the two employees declined to make those allegations formal in writing through Wright State. However, they could still pursue other avenues with the complaint.
Martinsen said he learned of his termination after being contacted by the Dayton Daily News on Monday afternoon, and was “shocked” by the decision.
The university said it informed Martinsen, who is also assistant vice president for student affairs, in writing on Monday that “at this point, it is best for all parties that you move in a different direction with your career and (that the university and Martinsen) part ways.”
Wright State also told the chief that the “conclusion has been reached upon factors independent of the complainants’ allegations; (those factors) include your behavior in reaction to allegations as well as other unacceptable behavior and actions you have taken,” according to a statement from the university.
Martinsen’s removal followed a public defense he made Friday in a statement, which also criticized Wright State’s handling of the investigation. He said he took a polygraph test from a certified state examiner that proves he is innocent of sexual harassment and misusing the university’s credit card. On Monday, he released a second statement defending himself against the complaints that he created a hostile work environment or retaliated.
Martinsen said he was not allowed an in-person discussion with Wright State officials after being placed on leave, and he feels “that WSU has wrongfully terminated me and placed me in a false light.”
“I’ve been loyal to WSU, and I learned of my termination via the media — then e-mail; WSU never gave me an opportunity to even respond to these false allegations and terminated me, after I advised WSU that I am seeking legal counsel to assist me during the ‘investigation,’” he said in an e-mail.
“I enjoyed my time serving the university and will begin a search for a new opportunity,” he said.
At the time he was placed on leave, Wright State told Martinsen in a letter that “the need to investigate is not a reflection upon your integrity, competence or ethics.” But that the university has a “legal obligation to investigate.”
He was required to turn in his university-provided weapon, keys and badge and told to stay away from campus, according to the letter.
In his last review, Martinsen was rated as meeting or exceeding expectations in all areas. He disciplined himself in March for leaving his service weapon in a restroom with four hours of firearms safety training.
Assistant Chief David Finnie was named interim chief when Martinsen was placed on leave. The two employees who made the informal allegations were transferred to other departments within the university, Wright State said last week.
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