Middletown makes 5 public safety promotions

Middletown’s public safety departments recently promoted two police officers and three firefighters to new ranks.

Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said that Andy Warrick and Raqib Ahmed received their promotions, which became effective on Nov. 2. Both were selected from the eligibility lists as the result of Civil Service testing procedures.

Warrick was promoted to lieutenant and will replace James Cunningham, who retired on Nov. 1. His new annual salary will be $88,496.

Muterspaw said Warrick is one of the top police canine trainers in Ohio and has been with the department for 16 years. Warrick also served 21 years in the Marine Corps.

Raqib was promoted to sergeant and will fill the vacancy created by Warrick’s promotion. His new annual salary will be $73,644.

Muterspaw described Ahmed as a “high performer.” Ahmed, a lifelong Middletown resident, became a Middletown police officer 19 years ago.

Warrick said he was thankful for the opportunity to be a Middletown police officer and said the city is a good place to work and is filled with good people to work with.

“To serve this city as a police officer was the best decision I have ever made,” Ahmed said. “Middletown is my hometown. I’ve lived here all my life and to serve it and protect it is a great honor and is still a great honor.”

Fire Chief Paul Lolli said that Steven Riley, Gary Myers and Frank Baughman were promoted to the rank of fire lieutenant. All three were selected from the eligibility list as a result of Civil Service testing. The new fire lieutenants will each receive an annual salary of $67,173.

“These are the three of the most seasoned firefighters in the department,” Lolli said.

He added the new lieutenants will be needed to help guide a much younger fire department.

Riley has been a firefighter for the past 25 years and served as a squadman. Myers has been with the fire department for 26 years and is one of the few firefighters who has held nearly every position in the fire department, according to Lolli. Meyers has been a squadman and a fire apparatus operator. Baughman has been a firefighter for 20 years and has also been a squadman and a fire apparatus operator.

In a related matter, the city hired three new firefighter-EMTs — Joey Robertson, Branden Cottrell and Antonio Pitman. All three were selected from the eligibility list as a result of Civil Service testing. They each will earn an annual salary of $40,376.

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