The Dayton Daily News has followed the Yellow Springs standoff and related events since a resident was killed by police in July. We will continue to bring you updates on this story.
Maj. Eric Spicer, a former division commander, confirmed Monday he was recently fired by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Spicer and Green County Sheriff Gene Fischer declined to provide details on the termination.
“I am proud of my record there having been a part of some of the largest most complex cases and operations in the history of the office,” Spicer said in a written statement.
The Dayton Daily News has requested Spicer’s personnel file and documents related to his employment, but they were not available on Monday.
“He’s an at-will employee and signed a paper to that effect,” Fischer said. At-will employees can be terminated at any time without cause, he said.
Spicer, 44, was terminated on Thursday after working almost a decade at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. His salary and benefits totaled $87,387 last year, according to county payroll records.
Spicer was on paid administrative leave for more than seven months before he was fired. He was placed on leave after the Yellow Springs police standoff ended in the death of Paul E. Schenck, a resident, who fired more than 100 shots at law enforcement officers on July 30.
“Regrettably I cannot speak to specifics of the administrative personnel case and will have to hold that for the appropriate forum,” Spicer wrote.
In November, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Spicer led the law enforcement officers to the wrong home located three houses south of Schenck’s residence. He said the Emergency Action Team stayed at the incorrect home for two hours before Spicer attempted to enter the house causing a fearful resident to dial 911.
After the shooting, Fischer asked Montgomery County investigators to determine whether the sheriff office’s policies and procedures were followed the night Schenck was killed. During previous interviews with the Dayton Daily News, the sheriff said there were concerns Spicer violated some of the office’s policies.
The Montgomery County investigation has concluded, however Fischer declined to comment on the findings or say whether the report is linked to Spicer’s termination.
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