Internal probe faults Yellow Springs officer in shooting response

A Yellow Springs officer who could be fired for alleged misconduct on the night of a fatal shooting in the village will have a hearing on the matter with village officials on Wednesday.

The village has released the internal investigation report into Dave Meister’s actions that night as provided by Clark County Detective Brian Melchi, who concluded that Meister should have responded to the scene and was not truthful during his internal investigation interview.

Melchi reviewed surveillance video at the department, listened to 911 calls and interviewed Meister, the dispatcher, and the responding officer as part of the investigation.

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“The fact that Officer Meister did not even respond to assist in life-saving efforts or helping a fellow officer with not only scene control but scene safety and was quick to point out in his interview about overtime needing approval causes great concern,” Melchi’s report reads. “There was a victim that needed immediate help and an officer trying to control a scene by himself, and Officer Meister was less than a minute away and chose to go home instead of helping.”

Meister, a Yellow Springs officer since 2009 who also works as a volunteer firefighter for the local department, had just finished his shift but remained in the village dispatch center when the shooting was reported.

Soon after the night of the shooting, Meister was notified by Village Manager Patti Bates that an internal investigation was being launched, and he faces possible termination for not responding to the scene.

Meister told this news organization he went home because if he had responded to the scene, he would have been on overtime and department policy is any OT has to be pre-approved by a supervisor.

Meister was demoted last year as part of disciplinary action in which he was found to have violated police policy during two traffic stops.

Meister’s attorney David Duwel said because of the previous discipline, his client was trying to follow village policy to the letter to stay out of trouble.

“There has to be a perception that he let the team down or something,” Duwel said. “But all you had to do was tell him to go. If he goes without permission, he’s probably signing his death warrant.”

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Meister has received an outpouring of support from the community. Seventeen of Meister’s supporters addressed council at their most recent meeting, and council had received nearly two dozen letters from residents supporting him as of the last council meeting, according to the village council clerk.

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