Updated 10:04 a.m. on March 22, 2024.
Circleville Mayor Michelle Blanton fired the city's new safety director days after he started the job and days after police chief Shawn Baer was placed on paid leave.
Now, former Safety Director Steven Wilkinson is making several accusations against the police department and Blanton. He spoke at a city council meeting Tuesday and gave a laundry list of accusations against Blanton as she sat at the city council dais.
Wilkinson said he was told to meet Blanton for a job interview in a privately-owned building and park in an alley before he was hired and days later was secretly sworn in. Wilkinson said his hire was never publicly announced to the citizens of Circleville.
Wilkinson said he took the job with the intention of reforming the police department, where he claimed officers are not being trained to state standards. He accused the department and Baer of pressuring Blanton and Law Director Kendra Kinney.
"If (Blanton and Kinney) fear the police, then there needs to be a substantial change in this city. I do not fear Shawn Baer, and I do not fear this police department," Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson did not mince words when criticizing Blanton in front of city council. Despite going over the council's five-minute time limit for public speakers, the council let him continue speaking for several more minutes.
"(Blanton) has promoted herself to her own level of incompetence. (Blanton) is a coward and caved to the illegal demands of the police department. I told (Blanton) I had the experience, knowledge and ability to handle the situation, because I had performed tasks much more difficult than what she was facing," Wilkinson said.
Blanton declined to comment on the accusations in an emailed statement.
The city placed Baer on paid leave after he allegedly harassed, intimidated, retaliated against and threatened to discipline someone. He's also accused of misusing his position and filing improper expenditures. Baer also allegedly failed to adhere to deadlines on the job and committed timekeeping violations.
Deputy Chief Doug Davis was supposed to become acting chief after Baer was placed on leave.
Wilkinson accused Davis of several offenses, including civil rights violations and pulling people over because of their race. Wilkinson said those allegations have not been thoroughly investigated because Wilkinson was removed from his position.
During his short term on the job, Wilkinson said Blanton has asked him to help her buy a gun, and had several emotional breakdowns, including one where she ran into the street crying and another where the fire department had to respond to her allegedly having a panic attack.
"At one point Michelle (Blanton) asked me if I could help her get a gun, and I told her I will gladly help her get a gun and train her to use it," Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson said he was not given a computer or phone for the first several days on the job, and that Blanton tried to prevent him from meeting with police officers, saying it would be her duty to deal with the department after Baer was placed on leave.
Wilkinson said Blanton insisted on dealing with the department herself. Wilkinson said Blanton feared retaliation and insubordination from officers. Wilkinson said Blanton also stated many were refusing to come to work because of Wilkinson's hiring.
Wilkinson said that would be a violation of their oaths as police officers.
