Photo of Dennis Sean Rahe from Loveland Police FaceBook Page
David Miller
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – Police Chief Dennis Sean Rahe started as a police officer in Loveland in 1998. He was active on the bike patrol team and as a field training officer. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2007, Assistant Chief in 2010, and Chief of Police in 2016. He served as Chief of Police until his retirement on Friday, April 1st.
The City lists these projects under his leadership:
Transitioning all LPD officers to full-time and growing staffing from 16 officers to 20.
Serving as the project manager for the $1.3 million renovation to the Loveland Safety Center.
Partnering with neighboring agencies on a Junior Police Academy and Citizens Police Academy.
Adding two additional School Resource Officers.
Expanding LPD hiring processes to include the National Testing Network, as well as personality and emotional intelligence testing.
Adopting the International Association of Property and Evidence standards.
Achieving Ohio Community Policing Collaborative Certification.
Conducting numerous threat assessments for Loveland sites and facilities.
During his term as Loveland Chief of Police, Rahe served as the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Chair of the Publications Committee, Treasurer and Secretary of the Clermont County Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association, Chair of the Child Abduction Response Team Committee for the Hamilton County Chiefs of Police, Liaison for the Ohio Crime Prevention Association Professional Organization, and the Law Enforcement Liaison for the ASIS International Cincinnati Chapter.
(Videos from Loveland Police FaceBook Page.)
Rahe graduated from Archbishop Moeller High School in 1991. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Police Academy, the OACP Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program, is a certified Project Manager through Xavier University, and is a board-certified Physical Security Professional through ASIS International.
City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine, “We have appointed Sue Madsen as our Safety Director. Sue was formerly the Chief of Miami Township before retiring a few years ago. Sue is extremely well respected, and the city is very fortunate to have her step in to help us out until a new Police Chief is appointed.”
Allegedly conspired with two Indiana gun dealers to acquire over 200 fully automatic weapons and re-sell them at a profit
One of those guns was an M2 .50 caliber belt-fed heavy machine gun, which according to the Indictment, is a vehicle- or ship-mounted weapon that is effective against lightly armored vehicles and low-flying aircraft.
Indianapolis – Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress announced on Friday that Dorian LaCourse, 65, of Milford, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in a scheme to use his position as Chief of Police for the Addyston Police Department in Addyston, Ohio, to help two federally licensed firearms dealers in Indiana acquire hundreds of machine guns. LaCourse was indicted on charges of conspiracy and making false statements to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress
Childress also announced today that the two Indiana gun dealers, Johnathan Marcum, 33, of Laurel, Indiana, and Christopher Petty, 57, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, have been charged with conspiracy for their roles in the machine gun scheme.
“Federal laws regulating the purchase, transfer or possession of firearms exist to promote public safety,” said Childress. “When people violate those laws, they unacceptably threaten the safety of others. This office will vigorously pursue those who commit federal firearms offenses, regardless of who they are. We expect better from our public servants, and when police officers violate the law, they can expect to be investigated and prosecuted like any other citizen. I am confident that LaCourse’s criminal choices do not represent the vast majority of law enforcement in this country.”
According to the Indictment, LaCourse and the two Indiana firearms dealers exploited a law enforcement exception to the general federal ban on fully automatic machine guns. The Village of Addyston, Ohio, has approximately 1,000 residents, and the Addyston Police Department has up to 10 officers, most of whom were part-time. However, according to the Indictment, between 2015 and 2019, LaCourse signed multiple letters and other official documents as Chief of Police falsely claiming to the ATF and others that the Addyston Police Department was interested in purchasing or receiving demonstrations of machine guns.
The Addyston Police Department and Village of Addyston had no intention of purchasing machine guns or receiving demonstrations of machine guns. Instead, these allegedly false statements were a pretense to gain ATF approval for Marcum and Petty to acquire machine guns, which they re-sold to other federally licensed firearms dealers at a profit—of which LaCourse got a portion. According to the Indictment, LaCourse received 11 checks payable to him totaling over $11,500.
In four instances, LaCourse falsely claimed on ATF forms and other documents that the Addyston Police Department was the actual purchaser of machine guns, including two bulk purchases of a total of 18 guns from German manufacturer Heckler & Koch. On one document required by the German government, which pertained to the importation of the machine guns into the United States, LaCourse is alleged to have falsely stated that the Addyston Police Department was the “end-user” of the guns. In reality, according to the Indictment, Marcum purchased the guns for the purpose of re-selling them—Marcum paid for them, picked them up from the Addyston Police Department when they arrived, and promptly re-sold them at a profit of over $8,000 each.
In all, the Indictment alleges that through their scheme, LaCourse’s false statements and representations induced the ATF to approve the purchase or importation of approximately 200 fully automatic machine guns. The types of guns acquired ranged from smaller submachine guns to automatic assault rifles, to belt-fed machine guns for military use. One of those guns was an M2 .50 caliber belt-fed heavy machine gun, which according to the Indictment, is a vehicle- or ship-mounted weapon that is effective against lightly armored vehicles and low-flying aircraft.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“No matter who you are, it is a crime to make false statements to acquire firearms and allow them into the hands of those who cannot legally possess them,” stated Roland H. Herndon, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “LaCourse, Marcum, and Petty all used their positions and knowledge of the system to illegally transfer fully automatic weapons for profit, with no regard for any potential impact that might have on our communities.”
According to Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Linder and William L. McCoskey, who are prosecuting this case for the government, LaCourse faces up to 5 or 10 years in prison on each charge if indicted and convicted. Marcum and Petty each face up to 5 years.
An indictment is merely a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court.
A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MIAMI TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT
On June 11, 2019, 3:15 a.m. A shooting occurred at 822 Wards Corner Road in Miami Township. Officers responded to the call and found Khristopher Jordan Ketring, 25, dead from a gunshot wound. After clearing the house and the immediate area, officers secured the residence.
Detectives have been investigating, viewing videos, conducting interviews and looking for witnesses/suspects. It is strongly believed, through the investigation, that the shooter and his accomplice were known to Mr. Ketring. We hope to release additional details in the coming days, but due to the ongoing investigation, they cannot be shared at this time. If a press conference occurs, media outlets will be notified 2 hours prior.
Dennis “Denny” Rees. Beloved husband of Maggie (nee Hall) Rees. Loving father of Dennis Scott (Holly) Rees and Jason Rees. Proud grandfather of Lauren & Ashley Rees. Cherished son of the late Robert R. and Anna Mae Rees. Dear brother of Kathy (Paul) Gessendorf, Genny Hall,Terry (Cathy) Rees, Dorothy Sue Rees, Patrick (Marian) Rees, and the late Robert (Nancy) Rees, Jr. Passed away October 26, 2018 at the age of 71.
Denny was Vietnam Veteran with the United States Army. While serving he earned serveral awards and medals. Those honors included: Two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star “10 LC” with B Device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Gallentry Cross with Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal. Denny was honorably discharged from the United States Army as a Captain.
Denny was the Chief of Police for the City of Loveland and Police Captain for the City of Cincinnati.
Family and friends will be received from 10 AM – 12 Noon on Saturday, November 3 at New Hope Baptist Church, 1401 Loveland Madeira Rd, Loveland, OH 45140, where services will be held at 12 Noon with Faternal Order of Police Services and Full Millitary Honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Denny may be directed to The Shield, 7149 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237 or Hospice of Cincinnati. P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263-3597
