UPDATED: Greenfield city manager: Madison Township 911 calls not being transferred to GPD

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

In July, it was reported that the Madison Township trustees have contracted with the Greenfield Police Department for law enforcement services through Dec. 31, 2023, according to Madison Township Trustee Dan Mathews.

Mathews said the Highland County Sheriff's Office has been notified of this change through certified and regular USPS mail. 

In a letter to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera dated June 28, Madison Township trustees said: "After much debate and discussion, as of July 1, 2023, the trustees have decided to utilize the Greenfield Police Department for all their law enforcement issues. This will free up deputies from making the 20-minute drive to Greenfield and also allows for a quicker response for our citizens by Greenfield Police. We have discussed this proposal with the Village of Greenfield and they are willing to take on this task. In November, we are trying to pass a levy for said police protection. If the levy fails, we will re-evaluate the situation and contact you." 

According to Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin (see https://highlandcountypress.com/greenfield-police-department-now-servin…), the township has contracted for Greenfield Police Department services through the end of the year for $40,000. 

Wilkin said there will be an issue on the Nov. 7 general election ballot for Madison Township to continue the GPD service for law enforcement.

More than two months after the Madison Township trustees' action, emergency 911 calls made to the Highland County Sheriff's Office from township residents are not being transferred to the Greenfield Police Department, according to Wilkin.

However, the sheriff disagrees with that assessment. According to public records provided by the sheriff, there have been 37 separate 911 calls transferred from the HCSO to the GPD since July 1, 2023.

On Sept. 1, Wilkin sent the following correspondence to Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera.

"I have several concerns that I would like to talk about with you about Madison Township," Wilkin said. "The Madison Township Trustees signed a contract with the Greenfield Police Department to provide police protection. The contract has been in effect since July 1, 2023, but we continue to experience difficulties that you may or may not be aware of. In a meeting with Chief Oyer and Chief Deputy Stratton on June 30, 2023, you said that your department would forward the 911 emergency calls once you received notification from the Madison Township Trustees. I understand your office received a certified letter on July 10, 2023.
 
"Since then, we still have not had any 911 calls transferred to our department. We know at least two shootings, one severe traffic crash, one overdose death and other situations that have not been transferred to our department. This subject concerns the response time necessary to save an individual's life and the lack of cooperation the Greenfield Police Department is experiencing when emergency calls are not being transferred."

On Sept. 1, Wilkin requested a meeting with the sheriff on Tuesday, Sept. 19. As of Sept. 12, Wilkin said Barrera has not responded.

On Sept. 12, Wilkin contacted Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins about the issue.

"As you know, we have had zero cooperation from the Highland County Sheriff’s Department regarding transferring 911 calls to the Greenfield Police Department," Wilkin told Collins. "I have reviewed the following ORC Sections 505.43, 128.01 and 128.34 and believe the 911 calls should be transferred on a legal basis and also the response time necessary to respond to matters in Madison Township.
 
"Per ORC Section 505.43, the Madison Township Trustees, guided by you, signed a contract for the Greenfield Police Department to provide police protection; as you are aware, the Township is placing this matter on the November ballot for the voters to approve a tax levy for financial support. 
 
"The ORC Section 128.01 states, '…and the personnel receiving the call must determine the appropriate emergency service provider to respond at that location.' Section 128.01(D)(1) of the law also states, 'Automatically routes the call to emergency service providers that serve the location from which the call is made…' and 128(D)(2) follows, 'Receives, develops, collects, or processes requests for emergency assistance and relays, transfers, operates, maintains, or provides emergency notification services or system capabilities.'
 
"The ORC Section 128.34(B) states, 'The attorney general, upon the attorney general’s own initiative, or any prosecutor, upon the prosecutor’s initiative, shall begin proceedings against a subdivision or a regional council of governments as to wireline or wireless 911 to enforce compliance with this chapter.'
 
"I understand that an internal and external email from the sheriff indicated the Sheriff’s Department would not transfer Madison Township 911 calls to the Greenfield Police Department. If this is true, it presents a danger to the Madison Township citizens and, in my opinion, a breach of the law. 
 
"I contacted the Attorney General’s office regarding this matter," Wilkin said. "They provided me with information to contact the State of Ohio 911 Compliance Coordinator’s office, and I did communicate my concerns with them. I spoke with Sherry McMurry, and she was very concerned that the 911 calls were not being transferred, and indicated she would contact the local 911 coordinator, Scott Miller, to understand why the calls were not being transferred. 

"Sherry McMurry indicated she spoke with Scott Miller, and he stated there were no rules in the county 911 comprehensive plan preventing the 911 center from transferring the calls for Madison Township to the Greenfield Police Department. She recommended reviewing the OAC 5507.01 -5507.19 to ensure the 911 system is functioning per law and the County Plan. She has indicated that I contact the commissioners' office for a copy of the 911 plan, understand who the subdivision representatives are, and reconvene the committee to change the rules, if necessary."   

Also on Sept. 12, the county prosecutor sent the following correspondence to the sheriff.

"I have been contacted by the Village of Greenfield regarding the Highland County Sheriff’s Office not transferring the 911 calls (or any calls from Madison Township)," Collins said. "They are requesting an explanation of this. I represent the Sheriff’s Office and Madison Township trustees and may need to step off of this matter in some capacity. Therefore, I would like an explanation as to why this is occurring.  

"I understand that the Sheriff’s Office has concurrent jurisdiction over Madison Township; however, I understand that some of these cases involve life-and-death situations. I am concerned that liability to the County may soon attach if someone that is impacted files a suit against the County. Please provide the explanation forthwith so that I know how to address this."
 
Also on Sept. 12, Collins sent a public records request to Barrera for "a list of all calls that originated in Madison Township from Sept. 1, 2022-Sept. 1, 2023 and the outcome of those calls (i.e. transferred to Greenfield Police Department or call was handled by the Highland County Sheriff's Department). I am requesting that each call be listed by date and time of the call."

On Sept. 12, Sheriff Barrera told The Highland County Press that "They're still getting their 911 calls. I don't have any idea why they say that. They're getting a lot of calls." 

• On Sept. 13, Barrera issued a direct order regarding the HCSO's handling of 911 calls. 

The order states: "Effective immediately, Sept. 13, 2023, all 911 calls for Madison Township will be transferred to the Greenfield Police Department. In situations where the Greenfield Police Department notifies dispatch that assistance is needed, a deputy or deputies shall respond."

The sheriff said he is responding to a public records request from the prosecutor's office on Sept. 13, and he will copy The Highland County Press on those records.

The Greenfield Police Department may be contacted at (937) 981-4466. Chief Jim Oyer may be reached at Policechief@greenfieldohio.net. Emergency 911 calls still go to the Highland County Sheriff's Office.