Fire/ EMS
Crooksville Residents Raise Concerns Over Fire and EMS Leadership Oversight
Crooksville Residents Raise Concerns Over Fire and EMS Leadership Oversight
By Rocky Chevalier, Crooksville News
Crooksville residents, volunteers, and personnel from the fire and EMS departments have voiced growing concerns over leadership and communication within the village’s emergency services. These concerns came to light following the resignation of former Fire Chief Darrell Wallace.
As the operator of Crooksville News, I have received numerous complaints through text messages, emails, phone calls, and messages sent via Facebook. Citizens have shared detailed accounts of issues within the fire and EMS departments and expressed frustration that their concerns were not being properly addressed. I consistently encouraged those contacting me to submit formal, documented complaints, explaining that this is the most effective way to ensure their voices are heard.
Many residents were skeptical at first, but documentation is a standard procedure for addressing departmental concerns. On September 15, 2025, I attended a Crooksville Council meeting with a number of questions regarding complaints previously submitted to Administrator Lacey Tumblin. During our conversation, Administrator Tumblin confirmed that Mayor Christopher Mohler had received these complaints, and that Council had also been provided copies.
At the meeting, I was called upon for public comment. I raised questions regarding the submitted complaints, seeking clarity on how they were being handled. Council President Bill Hampton responded, initially suggesting that my questions were driven by outside social media drama. I clarified that the concerns I presented were strictly based on formal complaints and had been verified with Administrator Tumblin, emphasizing that no external sources or Crooksville News reporting were influencing my questions.
It was during this discussion that I learned an alarming fact: neither Mayor Christopher Mohler nor council members, Bill Hampton, Fred Redfern, Rodney Walters, Billy Smith, John Loomis, and Scott lock had reviewed the submitted complaints and were unaware of the issues outlined within them. This revelation raises concerns about the effectiveness of filing formal complaints if they go unread, leaving residents’ safety and operational concerns unaddressed.
Currently, Crooksville residents can hope for more effective oversight with the establishment of a three-person Fire and EMS Committee, designed to assist in the supervision of emergency services. The committee members are:
• Lacey Tumblin, Village Administrator
• Fred Redfern, Council Member
• Scott Locke, Council Member
(As of August 04, 2025)
While this committee represents a positive step toward accountability, residents are left questioning whether formal complaints will now receive the attention they deserve and whether past issues could have been avoided with proper oversight.
As the village moves forward, it is clear that active monitoring and citizen engagement remain critical to ensuring the safety and reliability of Crooksville’s fire and EMS services.
09/15/25 Crooksville Ohio Council Meeting (Audio 2)
The birth of the committee happened during this meeting and at a later point, John Loomis resigned from the committee because of his work schedule and Scott Locke took his place as a committee member.
08/04/25 Crooksville, Ohio Council Meeting