Former New Carlisle Deputy Timothy Leedy was promoted to Sergeant in the Clark County Sheriff’s Department Monday morning during a special recognition ceremony.
Leedy, who has served the Clark County Sheriff’s Department for nine years, said he was nominated for the promotion to Sergeant once before, but was not granted it due to no vacancies being available. Leedy is a longtime member of the Air Force Reserves, having served the country through that branch for 30 years now. After working in the jail, Leedy moved to the uniform patrol division in the City of New Carlisle, where he became a well-known fixture around town.
Leedy said his promotion to Sergeant will give him even more opportunities to talk to Clark County residents and get to know them.
“I talk to everyone anyway,” he said, smiling.
Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said that those considered for promotion to the rank of Sergeant undergo a written exam as well as “a grueling oral exam” before a board that takes the better part of a day.
Deputies Robert Wagner and Chad Eubanks were also promoted to Sergeants in Monday morning’s ceremony.
Wagner is a Greenon graduate who also once served as a member of the Enon/Mad River Township Fire and EMS Department and the Enon Emergency Squad. He was hired as a reserve deputy for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1989, and became a full-time deputy the next year. Wagner has received numerous accolades for his work in the department, including Deputy Sheriff of the Year, Medal of Valor, and Perfect Attendance awards.
Eubanks entered law enforcement 20 years ago after joining the German Township Police Department, and was hired as a Clark County deputy in 1999. He has been awarded the Distinguished Officer Medal of Valor award, as well as Deputy of the Year, and many more.
Deputy Jolene Irons was also recognized during the ceremony for her work in assisting a suicidal man in May of this year. The man, suffering from PTSD, had barricaded himself in a woodpile with a gun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and called his mother to tell him his intentions on ending his life. Deputy Irons, who was technically off-duty that evening, made contact with the man on the phone and ultimately talked him out of harming himself or anyone else. Sheriff Kelly also commended Sergeant David Perks and Lieutenant Barnhart for their involvement in the situation, saying that Perks immediately communicated with other deputies, informing them of the man’s weapon and ammunition. Irons was given the Exceptional Service Award for her actions in saving the man’s life.
Irons presented the man with a “challenge coin” on behalf of the FOP Lodge, saying that he overcame an overwhelming challenge that day, and thanked him for his service to the country, and for making the right decision that day.
“You made the best decision you could make, and my thanks is to you,” Irons said, embracing him.
Deputy Fitzroy Lawrence received his third Sheriff’s Award on Monday, also during the ceremony, for his recent actions surrounding an auto accident at High Street and Burnett Road in Springfield. Kelly said that Deputy Lawrence was on his way to church with his family when they came upon an auto accident, and Lawrence recognized the man inside who had suffered a compound fracture. He spoke to the man by name and comforted him until medics arrived and took him to the hospital. He later found out that the man had been moved to Miami Valley Hospital, and that no one had come to visit him. Lawrence loaded his wife and kids into their car and went to Dayton to visit the man in the hospital, which Kelly said earned him his third Sheriff’s Award.
William Sanders was also sworn-in as the department’s newest deputy. Sanders is a 2011 graduate of Springfield High School, and former cadet with the sheriff’s department.
