Steven Wilkinson shared a story about his short tenure as Circleville’s Safety Director before he was terminated for what he said was an attempt to reform the city’s Police Department.
During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Wilkinson asserted that Mayor Michelle Blanton fired him for being a whistleblower. He also accused her of being too weak to challenge misconduct within the CPD. He made reference to CPD Police Chief Shawn Baer being placed on administrative leave March 11 while the city investigates allegations of misconduct. Wilkinson accused Blanton of being so emotional that she needed assistance to deal with her panic attack from the city’s fire department.
Blanton did not respond during the meeting to Wilkinson’s remarks.
The Herald reached out to Blanton for comment and will update this story if she responds.
Wilkinson began his speech by recalling when he was summoned by Blanton and Law Director Kendra Kinney around 5:15 p.m. March 7 to meet at private office — not City Hall. He was instructed to park in the alley and enter through the back door.
“I was offered the position of safety director and then told my retaliation complaint was being used as one of the reasons they were going to relieve (former CPD Chief) Shawn Baer of duty. I was told not to discuss this at all with (Circleville Human Resources Director) Valerie Dilley as they were worried she would interfere with the investigation.”
Wilkinson recalled a lot of small talk at the meeting, including when Blanton asked him if he could help her get a gun. He told her he would gladly help her get a gun and train her to use it.
Friday morning, March 8, Wilkinson said he was sworn in and told to report to Blanton’s office at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 11, to relieve Baer of duty.
Wilkinson said 20 minutes later, Blanton called and told him not to report to work until 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, because she would handle the safety director’s responsibility for the police department until things calmed down.
“I reported to the office as instructed,” he said. “When I arrived, there was no phone, no computer, nothing waiting for my office. I did not meet with Human Resources that day to do any paperwork.”
Wilkinson continued, “I did not meet with Michelle (Blanton) until after 4 p.m. I told Michelle I wanted to start to do roll call introductions with the police and the fire department. Michelle stated she would handle the Police Department for now. I told Michelle I needed to correct misconduct with previous training as firearm qualifications were commencing next week, and the police were not training to follow state mandated procedures.”
Wilkinson said Blanton told him to clear this matter with Kinney.
“In a text, I messaged Kendra. Kendra said, OK. I also met with Kendra prior to the meeting with the training sergeants.”
Wilkinson said Blanton gave him a letter with a salary offer — several days after he was hired — on Wednesday, March 13. That same day, Wilkinson said he spoke to Sergeant Fisher and Sergeant Nicholson of the Circleville Police Department.
“My instructions were clear, trained to a state of standards with no deviation, review the policy, develop a test,” he said. “I told the sergeants we would no longer send emails telling officers to educate themselves. It was our responsibility to train the police officers.”
Wilkinson said he gave an order to deliver last year’s records for a comparative analysis to this year’s firearms qualification. He also instructed Sergeant Eric Nicholson not to utilize Ken McCoy, the South Bloomfield Police officer, as he does not train to state standards.
Wilkinson continued, “Michelle allowed the score sheets to be delivered to Kendra, directly subverting my authority as his new safety director.”
Wilkinson said as of Thursday, March 14, his office still had no computer or phone, and during the three days he was safety director, he performed three official duties, including signing accounts payable. Also, Wilkinson said he met with the fire chief and two engine companies and provided clear direction on how training should be implemented in the police department to cover state standards and mandates.
Then things began to change for Wilkinson when around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, “I watched Michelle flee and run out into the middle of the street crying uncontrollable uncontrollably. This was the third time in three days I met witnessed Michelle lose control of her emotions and cry at 4:15 p.m. On that day, a torrent of demands from my resignation from Michelle began.”
Wilkinson continued, “Michelle told me the police department was refusing to meet with me, refusing to work with me, and some were refusing to come to work. I told Michelle that violated the law and that violated their oaths. Michelle told me I was insubordinate to Kendra Kinney by violating an order. Well, in order for me to be insubordinate, I would have to be subordinate. I do not report or did not report to Kendra Kenny. I reported to Michelle Blanton.”
Wilkinson said Blanton then stated he was under two internal affairs investigations.
“I replied to her that this is not a new revelation. They were filed prior to me being hired, and she was utilizing that as part of her investigation that she is utilizing to relieve Chief Baer of duty,” he said.
“This meeting with Michelle lasted over two and a half hours,” he said. “At approximately 7 p.m., Michelle told me to leave and report the next morning. I was terminated at 7:16 a.m. Friday morning.”
Wilkinson said he made Blanton, Kinney and Dilley aware of police misconduct before being hired. He said officers in Circleville were not qualified to state firearm standards and that he had witnessed civil rights violations.
Wilkinson said CPD Officer Don Davis was on the Brady List in Common Pleas Court for giving false testimony and falsified police report statements.
The Brady List is the definitive public-facing platform of record for information about police misconduct, decertification, public complaints, use-of-force reports, do-not-call listings, and more potential impeachment disclosures.
“Davis is on the Brady List in Common Pleas Court for giving false testimony, falsifying police reports, manufactured evidence, and using race as a basic for as the basis for a traffic stop — no investigation has ever been initiated in these into Deputy Circleville Police Chief (Doug) Davis. That is required by policy,” he said.
Wilkinson continued, “Michelle spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to investigate me, a private citizen, for a comment I made to an off-duty police officer. The investigation was completed in February and I was exonerated of any claim of discrimination. I’ve asked four times and I have never received a copy of this investigation. I was also denied public records request by Chief Baer and Kendra Kinney. I asked for text messages. Text messages are public record. They were denied.”
Wilkinson said if the mayor and law director fear the police, he could go into that in much greater detail, but he only had a few minutes to talk during the council meeting, so he chose not to go into detail.
“If they fear the police, then there needs to be a substantial change in this city,” he said. I do not fear Shawn Baer or the police department. I possess the knowledge and the courage to face these issues head-on. I was never given that opportunity.”
Wilkinson continued, “Michelle has promoted herself to her own her own level of incompetence. Michelle is a coward and caved to the illegal demands of the police department. I told Michelle I had the experience, knowledge and the ability to handle the situation as I performed tasks much more difficult than what she was currently facing. I told her to let me do the do the job she hired me to do. I never got the opportunity.”
Wilkinson took aim at the mayor’s emotions.
“Michelle cannot control her emotion. She breaks into crying episodes anytime things get modestly difficult. Michelle does not have the courage or experience or fortitude to handle stressful situations,” he said. “Michelle embarrassed herself and showed her weakness to the public and the fire department who was called to deal with her self-reported panic and anxiety attack.”
Wilkinson said Blanton swore him in secretly, and she never announced his new role to the citizens of Circleville.
“Michelle utilized me as a scapegoat to get Shawn Baer, then terminated me to keep me from continuing to reveal police misconduct.”
Wilkinson continued, “Three safety directors have been asked to resign or terminated in the past two years — the common denominator attempting to hold the police department accountable. I was terminated for blowing the whistle on past misconduct, and Michelle’s lack of courage to address misconduct within the police department.”
Wilkinson said, as a 30-year retired police lieutenant and a disabled veteran, “I have earned the right to be treated with a higher level of professional respect than I got from Michelle Blanton.”
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