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Oakwood mayor details safety training, awards and $513,000 in contraband funds
Summary
Mayor Duncan highlighted the Citizen Police Academy graduation, recognized Detective Casey Ballinger and other officers for awards and regional support, and said the city will receive $513,000 in contraband revenue for 2026 to buy public-safety equipment.
Mayor Duncan opened the council’s Dec. 1 meeting with a public-safety update that named recent training and awards and announced new funding for equipment.
Duncan said the Citizen Police Academy completed its 10th week with a graduation in council chambers and credited Captain Keith Benson and Lieutenant Damien Bag for welcoming participants and supporting continued involvement through a CPA alumni association. "Understanding, trust, and collaboration between our public safety staff and the residents they serve" was a stated goal of the program, he said.
Duncan also highlighted officers who contributed to regional responses and training. He said PSO Cameron McElroy served as a lead instructor for specialized arm proficiency and defensive tactics and PSO Sarah Whitaker visited Oakwood classrooms to present bicycle and e-scooter safety. He recognized Lieutenant Matt Staley for a regional SWAT rookie award and named Oakwood SWAT members PSO Ross Green and PSO Ryan Wells as assisting in a response that ended without incident.
The mayor read that Detective Casey Ballinger received several honors for significant investigations and service, including work with the Miami Valley human trafficking task force and as a federal task force officer. "We thank Detective Ballinger for her continued professionalism and representing both the city of Oakwood and the safety department with distinction," Duncan said.
Duncan told the council the city will receive $513,000 in contraband revenue in 2026 and that officials plan to use those funds for public-safety equipment. He also flagged growing e-bike and e-scooter use in Oakwood and explained limits on local authority under state law: "Most e-bikes are class 1 or 2 and are treated like regular bikes," he said, noting only class 3 devices carry special restrictions and that cities cannot override state rules about where e-bikes may be ridden.
The mayor urged parents to remind young riders of safety rules and said the council will take up e-bike-related policy discussions in upcoming council sessions.
The public-safety update concluded with gratitude for officers’ service and a reminder that human trafficking is a regional and international problem.
