Wilmington honors 3 officers; City: Ensured incident didn’t escalate, made arrest

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WILMINGTON — Public servants took center stage during Thursday’s Wilmington City Council Meeting.

Mayor John Stanforth gave special recognition to Wilmington Police Department Sgt. Ron Fithen and officers Matt Hamilton and Whitney Johnson for preventing an incident from escalating into violence.

“On April 17, these officers acted in heroic fashion stopping a potential workplace violence incident,” said Stanforth during his mayor’s report. “They were able to use their training and stop what could have escalated to a lethal force encounter. This, in turn, saved lives at a local business — which is also across the street from a daycare. Their actions are within the highest accord in standards keeping with this department’s city vision of safety and service.”

The incident took place at Abbott Image Solutions on Park Street April 17. According to police records, officers were responding to a potential theft resulting in the arrest of Shaun McGee, 37. Officers had found a handgun on the suspect and ammunition was found throughout the business.

McGee was indicted on May 1 in the U.S. District Court of Southern Ohio in Cincinnati on one count of alleged possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and he pled not guilty.

McGee had already been sentenced to 37 months in prison in New York for knowingly making a firearm and “possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking.”

Also during council:

• Councilmember Jonathan McKay praised “the professionalism and enthusiasm” of Wilmington police, city officials, cemetery workers, and the VFW and American Legion veterans for working together after an incident in which American flags were removed from the graves of veterans at Sugar Grove Cemetery and placed in a dumpster. Stanforth said he was disappointed to see people accusing city employees of dumping the flags before they could find out what happened.

• Shidaker informed council that he received an attendees list for the May 13 meeting he has with the Army Corps of Engineers over the Caesar Creek billing issues. Shidaker said attendees would include the director and assistant director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers Louisville District commander Col. Antoinette Gant, and Division Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Toy.

• Stanforth swore in Ron Birt as a lieutenant of the Wilmington Fire Department and made two proclamations — The first one for Police Week May 12-18, and the second for National Economic Development Week May 6-11.

Three Wilmington police officers, joined by their families, get a standing ovation after being recognized by the city at Thursday’s city council meeting for their actions in stopping a potential violent workplace incident at Park Drive in April.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_DSC_0688.jpgThree Wilmington police officers, joined by their families, get a standing ovation after being recognized by the city at Thursday’s city council meeting for their actions in stopping a potential violent workplace incident at Park Drive in April. John Hamilton | News Journal

Ron Birt stands with his family as Mayor John Stanforth swears him in as a Wilmington Fire Department lieutenant at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_DSC_0695.jpgRon Birt stands with his family as Mayor John Stanforth swears him in as a Wilmington Fire Department lieutenant at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting. John Hamilton | News Journal

From left, Dan Evers, Ruth Brindle and Beth Huber receive a proclamation from Mayor John Stanforth for National Economic Development Week at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting .
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_DSC_0721.jpgFrom left, Dan Evers, Ruth Brindle and Beth Huber receive a proclamation from Mayor John Stanforth for National Economic Development Week at Thursday’s Wilmington City Council meeting . John Hamilton | News Journal

From left, Matt Hamilton, Whitney Johnson and Ron Fithen of the Wilmington Police Department were recognized by Mayor John Stanforth and the city during Thursday’s City Council meeting for the action in preventing a possible incidence of workplace violence on Park Drive in April.
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2019/05/web1_DSC_0644.jpgFrom left, Matt Hamilton, Whitney Johnson and Ron Fithen of the Wilmington Police Department were recognized by Mayor John Stanforth and the city during Thursday’s City Council meeting for the action in preventing a possible incidence of workplace violence on Park Drive in April. John Hamilton | News Journal
City: Ensured incident didn’t escalate, made arrest

By John Hamilton

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Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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