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Oakwood police officer accused of attacking man retires from force

Oakwood Police Officer John McCalister is on administrative leave after he was accused of assaulting a man inside a Rite Aid Pharmacy in Dayton. He was off-duty and out of uniform when the alleged assault occurred.

Staff photo by Kelli Wynn Oakwood Police Officer John McCalister is on administrative leave after he was accused of assaulting a man inside a Rite Aid Pharmacy in Dayton. He was off-duty and out of uniform when the alleged assault occurred.

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By Kelli Wynn, Staff Writer Updated 10:29 AM Tuesday, December 22, 2009

OAKWOOD — John McCalister, the Oakwood police officer who was charged with misdemeanor assault after striking a man inside a Dayton Rite Aid Pharmacy, submitted a letter of retirement, according to Oakwood Public Safety Chief Alex Bebris.

The letter said McCalister’s retirement was effective Dec. 18, Bebris said Monday, Dec. 21.

McCalister, 46, was caught on the pharmacy’s surveillance camera, striking Paul Watts, 48, of Dayton on Oct. 14 at 1158 Wilmington Ave. Watts did not attempt to strike back at McCalister, according to the video.

McCalister retired as a part of a written agreement between himself, the City of Oakwood and his union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #107, Bebris said.

McCalister has been with the Oakwood Public Safety Department for 14 years and was a former Dayton Firefighter.

Neither John McCalister nor his attorney, Richard Skelton, could be reached for comment.

McCalister, along with wife and fellow Oakwood Officer Tiffany McCalister, had been on administrative leave since Oct. 30, according to letters filed in their personnel files.

John McCalister turned in his retirement letter before he was interviewed for the city’s internal investigation, Bebris said.

Tiffany McCalister witnessed the Oct. 14 event, according to a Dayton police report. She has not been charged.

The portion of the report that was released to the public said John McCalister advised his wife to go to a car and get a gun, but did not say if she actually sought a weapon.

“It is my understanding that no gun was shown,” said special prosecutor Michael Shiels, the city of Springfield’s chief prosecutor. However, he also said, “I don’t want to discuss the details of the case.”

Stephanie Cook, Dayton’s chief prosecutor, recused her office from the case because of a conflict of interest.

John McCalister is scheduled to appear at a pre-trial hearing before Judge John Pickrel on Feb. 23.

Tiffany McCalister was taken off of administrative leave last week and is now on sick leave, Bebris said.

“She is welcomed to come back to work,” Bebris said. He didn’t know when she would return, but said she is currently scheduled to return to work this week. He said also her internal investigation will be finished when she returns to work.

“I’m hoping that everyone involved is able to move forward on this,” Bebris said.

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