DeWine orders flags to be half-staff for Springfield Twp. officer, resident killed in crash

Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags be lowered to half-staff this week in honor of a Springfield Township police officer and a Cincinnati resident who died in a car crash Friday.

United States and Ohio flags at public buildings and grounds in Hamilton County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts and the Rhodes State Office Tower will be lowered per the order, a press release said. Other Ohio public buildings and grounds can use their own discretion.

The governor issued the order Saturday and it will remain in effect until sunset on the day of the last funeral, which the Springfield Township Police Department said will be Thursday.

Fatal crash:Funeral arrangements announced for Springfield Twp. officer killed in on-duty crash

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Why are flags in Cincinnati and Ohio at half-staff?

Springfield Township Police Chief Rick Bley said 31-year-old officer Tim Unwin was responding to assist another officer Friday morning at the time of the crash. Bley said Monday the North College Hill collision occurred as multiple police jurisdictions responded to an "officer needs assistance call."

Unwin and 50-year-old North College Hill resident William Dunson were killed in the crash.

A visitation for Unwin, who had been a police officer for four years, will take place Wednesday at Spring Grove Funeral Home. Dunson will also be honored.

It is not yet clear what caused the accident, and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is leading an investigation. Officials said the probe won't be finished until later this week at the earliest.