WARREN, OH - Two inspectors with the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's Office were fired on Oct. 3 after GPS installed in their work vehicles confirmed they used the vehicles to make numerous and lengthy unauthorized stops at their homes and other locations during work hours.

The Board of Commissioners agreed to terminate their employment on grounds of "gross misconduct," including violation of standards of conduct for county employees and violation of county vehicle policy.

According to WKBN, the investigation began in July after one of the vehicles was seen parked outside a home in a nearby county — vehicle policy states that vehicles are not to leave the county. After some investigation, GPS systems were installed in the two workers' vehicles without their knowledge.

Both workers inspected sanitary sewers across the county. GPS confirmed one worker, a 17-year employee of the county, spent 55 percent of his shift time on non-work related activities, at retail stores and at his home. The other, an employee of 13 years, spent 22 percent of her shift time at non-work related stops, including at her home.

The employees have the right to appeal their terminations.

The Sanitary Engineer's Office is considering installing GPS in all its fleet vehicles in order to track the county's assets and save money on insurance and fuel, according to the news source.