A Warsaw patrol officer was arrested Friday on a domestic battery charge and has been fired as a result, the Warsaw police chief confirmed this morning.

Joseph R. Klaehn of 1600 block of Echo Lane in Fort Wayne, is accused of slapping his wife in the face more than once during an argument Friday, according to a Fort Wayne Police report.

The woman said the argument, which occurred while her small children were in the other room, was over “just small things like money,” but would not elaborate more to the police officer, the report said. The woman also claimed Klaehn had assaulted her in the past, according to the report.

Klaehn was arrested Friday and booked into Allen County Lockup. He is now out on bail.

Klaehn was hired by the Warsaw Police Department in March after a thorough background check, Police Chief Perry Hunter said. He had previously worked for the Allen County Sheriff's Department, and was planning to attend the police academy this January, Hunter said.

Hunter said the fact that Klaehn had only worked for the Warsaw department for a short time played a part in his firing.

“The fact that it's a domestic violence situation makes it extra sensitive for us,” Hunter said. “He just left us with no choice.”