Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Healthy officials address fatal shooting, schedule safety committee and traffic-calming actions
Summary
After a fatal shooting near the Speedway, council and police outlined investigative progress, residents pressed for stricter late-night business controls and UDF-related alley concerns, and councilor Redding scheduled a series of October safety meetings to pursue cameras, speed humps and other measures.
Mount Healthy officials on Monday discussed a weekend fatal shooting near the Speedway, described investigative steps and set a series of safety-committee meetings to pursue enforcement and traffic-calming measures.
The police chief said the victim, "Reginald Simpson…was struck by a bullet, causing his death," and described a multiagency investigation involving Hamilton County forensic teams and cell-phone and camera evidence. The chief said investigators "continue to develop leads" and invited residents to ask questions about prevention and enforcement.
At public comment and later in council discussion, residents asked whether the city can restrict hours at businesses that remain open late. Law Director Scott Solomon said the city adopted a 2021 restriction covering 2:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., but that ordinance was aimed at private event venues and was not written specifically to regulate convenience stores. The chief said he has raised the issue with Speedway management and that corporate and regional staff indicated they would consider security and operational changes.
Several residents urged faster action. A long-term Mount Healthy resident who has reported repeated vehicle incidents at an alley tied to a United Dairy Farmers (UDF) location said the business opened an alley without adequate neighborhood consultation and asked the council to decide whether to close the alley. "Whatever decision you guys make, please make a decision because we're tired," the resident said.
Councilor Joe Redding announced weekly safety-committee meetings for October to examine camera placement, traffic calming (including speed humps), possible moratoriums on new event centers and options to engage the state liquor-control board. City Manager Scott Bauer said staff and county partners can provide crash maps and data to help prioritize locations.
The meetings are scheduled to begin the week after the council meeting and will include staff, county representatives and community members, Redding said. No new ordinances were adopted at the meeting specifically tied to the shooting; council members described the meetings as a mix of information-gathering and the start of targeted actions.
The council also acknowledged ongoing efforts by churches, schools and community groups to reach youth and reduce violence, while emphasizing that outreach and enforcement are complementary strategies.
