CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Less than two weeks after the Circleville police chief was walked out of the office and placed under investigation, the newly hired safety director has been fired.
“Michelle swore me in secretly and never announced my role publicly,” said former Circleville Safety Director, Steve Wilkinson.
Wilkinson, who is a retired Columbus police lieutenant, told the Circleville city council on Tuesday Mayor Michelle Blanton hired him, and three days later she fired him.
His first official day was the day after Blanton asked the Pickaway County Sheriff to escort Circleville Police Chief Shawn Baer out of his office.
Baer is being investigated for alleged misconduct.
Deputy Chief Doug Davis was named interim chief.
“I was terminated at 7:16am on Friday morning. I made Michelle, Kendra (Kinney, law director) and Valerie (Dilley, Human Resource Director) aware of police misconduct prior to being hired. Officers in Circleville are not certified to OPOTA standards in firearms. I witnessed civil rights violations and DC Davis is on the Brady list on common pleas court for giving false testimony, falsifying police reports,” Wilkinson said.
In that time Wilkinson said the mayor asked him to help her get a gun.
Wilkinson said he only conducted three official duties as safety director before he was terminated.
10TV went to the city administrative office to get answers from the mayor, but she did not respond.
An employee at the law director's office said interim Chief Davis has not been in the office for two days.
In an emailed statement the law director stated she will not comment on Wilkinson's termination, the police department, or the interim chief's status.
10TV reached out to every city council member, none of them would comment.