Mrs. Hilton advised Council she had read the meeting minutes of the July 20, 2020 regular session and the August 24, 2020 work session. Mrs. Hilton reported that she found the minutes correct and complete. Therefore, it was moved by Mrs. Hilton and seconded by Mr. Stephens that the minutes of the session of Council aforementioned be approved as written and the reading thereof at this session be dispensed with. Upon a viva voce vote on the question of the motion, same passed unanimously and it was so ordered.

Auditor of State Award – Mayor Duncan reported that the Oakwood Finance Department was again awarded the Auditor of State Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting. He shared that the Auditor of State’s office audits more than 6,000 state and local government agencies. Entities that receive this award must meet a number of criteria in addition to qualifying for a “clean” audit report. Mayor Duncan invited Finance Director Cindy Stafford, CPA to speak about receiving this award.

Mrs. Stafford thanked and recognized members of the Oakwood Finance Department for all of their hard work. She added that this award not only represents the hard work of all city employees, but also City Council in overseeing the use of public resources.

Mayor Duncan thanked Finance Director Cindy Stafford for her outstanding leadership, professionalism, and commitment to fiscal integrity and financial transparency. He then asked Mrs. Stafford to relay City Council’s appreciation to the Oakwood Finance Department.

Recognition of Oakwood Patrol Officer Claude McCormick – Mayor Duncan invited Chief Hill, along with Lieutenant Damian Baggett and Public Safety Officer Greg Ortel, to comment on the only known line-of-duty death in the Oakwood Public Safety Department.

Chief Hill shared that a fatal on-duty accident involving Patrol Officer Claude McCormick was recently brought to the Oakwood Public Safety Department’s attention. Research found that Officer McCormick was never formally memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. Oakwood Public Safety Officers dedicated themselves to ensure that Officer McCormick’s line-of-duty death be properly recognized. Chief Hill shared that it is only fitting that the council meeting tonight be held at the Oakwood Community Center because Officer McCormick lived in the upstairs apartment here at 105 Patterson Road. He explained that the recognition of Officer Claude McCormick being added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial was to be included in the annual Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, but due to COVID-19, the event was cancelled. In lieu of the traditional event, the organization conducted a “Cruiser of Lights Caravan”. Chief Hill recognized Carl Suchomel with Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) for recording the “Cruiser of Lights Caravan.” He then invited Lieutenant Damian Baggett and Public Safety Officer (PSO) Greg Ortel to provide additional information.

PSO Greg Ortel shared that Officer McCormick served in the department in the 1930’s. The Oakwood Public Safety Department was made aware of Officer McCormick’s death during a local FOP meeting. He was involved in a motorcycle accident at Far Hills and Harman, suffering a head injury. PSO Rob Wilson began the efforts in researching the accident to ensure that Officer McCormick’s line-of-duty death was properly recognized.

Lieutenant Damian Baggett referenced a PowerPoint presentation and shared that Claude McCormick was born on August 15, 1888 in Atlanta, Missouri, to Patrick and Mollie McCormick. In 1911, just two years before the Great Flood, Mr. Claude McCormick and his wife Maude (Anna) moved to Dayton, Ohio. Claude McCormick served in the United States Army from November 1917 until his honorable discharge in March 1919.

Patrol Officer Claude McCormick joined the Oakwood Public Safety Department in 1930, and served the city of Oakwood as a motorcycle patrolman. At that time, he lived in an upstairs apartment at 105 Patterson Road. On August 29, 1933, while serving the Oakwood community, Officer McCormick was involved in a fatal on-duty accident on Far Hills Avenue at Harman Avenue. Officer McCormick is the only line-of-duty death in the Oakwood Public Safety Department. He was laid to rest at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After further research was conducted, it was determined that Officer McCormick has no known descendants.

Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. It is celebrated on May 15^th of each year. In 1982, the first memorial services to remember line-of-duty deaths inflicted on those who serve the law enforcement profession occurred. Currently, Police Week draws between 25,000 and 40,000 in Washington D.C.