NBC Statement 3/11/25 | Village of Evendale OH

A little more than thirty days ago, our community was confronted by Neo-Nazis who brought their hateful ideology to our doorstep. Alongside our neighbors in Lincoln Heights, we are taking steps to define what happens next. We continue to listen, learn, and act. Across the Mill Creek Valley, community leaders, faith groups, and residents are working to reinforce communities, build bridges and make it clear this type of hate will not be accepted.

That’s why we remain committed to pursuing lasting change. A working group of Evendale Village Council members is speaking with elected officials, business leaders, and community members across the region. At the end of this month, we are bringing together elected leaders from across the Princeton School District to address child safety, trauma and broader concerns to reinforce our shared values. At the same time, we are working to set up public forums—to develop actionable ways forward.

The officers of the Evendale Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies were responding to a dangerous and dynamic situation in which the highest priority was the protection of life. Our emphasis on de-escalation and public safety resulted in the incident's resolution without injuries to any of the persons involved, passersby or law enforcement officers. During this evolving scene, protecting life took priority over immediate identification. We have forwarded all body camera footage to the Hamilton County Prosecutor for review as part of their ongoing criminal investigation.

Additionally, the Village of Evendale initiated an independent review by 21CP Solutions, a nationally recognized consulting firm led by a diverse group of experts. That review is underway, and its findings are set for release in May. We will release the report in its entirety.

We want to better understand the feelings and concerns of our neighbors in Lincoln Heights, specifically as they relate to issues of transparency and accountability. We continue to actively seek ways to reassure, collaborate and unite our communities. By working together on issues of concern, we can overcome the divisions these events revealed. Addressing them will require sustained engagement, empathy, understanding and meaningful action by all involved. We are committed to taking these important steps as a coalition of communities.

Richard H. Finan
Mayor