Age: 31
Served: 8½ years
December 4, 2014 to July 25, 2019 Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
August 5, 2019 to May 19, 2021 Hamilton Police Department
May 2021 to March 31, 2023 Springfield Township Police Department
OFFICER
Tim was born August 23, 1991 in Cincinnati to Glenn Gerard and Dawn Marie Unwin. He graduated in 2009 from William Henry Harrison High School and from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in 2013.
Tim joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office on December 4, 2014 as a Corrections officer. Officer Unwin completed the Ohio Peace Officers Trai
On August 5, 2019, Officer Unwin joined the Hamilton Police Department as a Police Officer. Hamilton Police Chief Bucheit said of him, “While Tim’s time here was brief, his impact was significant in terms of the lives he touched and the many relationships he forged,” Hamilton Police Chief Craig Bucheit said in a statement.” He resigned on May 19, 2021.
On May 24, 2021, Officer Unwin joined the Springfield Township Police Department. By the end of March 2023, he had served his Hamilton County and two communities for more than eight years.
Officer Unwin religiously maintained physical fitness and enjoyed working on automobiles, especially his Subaru WRX STI. He had an infectious smile and Police Chief Richard Bley described him as being liked by everyone that collaborated with him and that he was willing to help anyone that he could.
INCIDENT
Early early on March 31, 2023, a Police Officer Needs Assistance was broadcast to all cars and all departments in Hamilton County. Officer Unwin, traveling north on Hamilton Avenue and, in the 7100 block, struck a vehicle driven by William Kenneth Dunson (50), coming to rest at Marilyn Lane. His emergency lights and siren were on. Unwin was merging from the right lane to the left lane, after a construction zone, when he lost control of his police cruiser, the release states.
His cruiser then hit a concrete median in the center of the road, causing the vehicle to “trip and roll onto the driver’s side,” officials said, adding the cruiser went into the southbound lanes of Hamilton Avenue and struck a vehicle operated by William Dunson, 50.
Both Officer Unwin and the driver of the other vehicle were killed instantly.
DEATHS
Officer Unwin
This is the first line of duty death of a Springfield Township Police Officer since they were established as a fulltime law enforcement agency in 1964. Springfield Township lowered its flags to half-staff.
Hamilton Police Chief Craig R. Bucheit ordered a seven-day mourning period for the Hamilton Police Department until April 7, 2023. The Hamilton County Commissioners ordered flags lowered on all County-owned buildings.
Officer Unwin was predeceased by his grandparents, Katherine Harrison and Thomas Unwin. He is survived by his parents, Glenn and Dawn Unwin; siblings, Gregg Unwin and Kim (Ryan) Hicks; and grandparents, Marilyn (Tebbe) Unwin and Louis Harrison.
Officer Unwin’s remains were initially transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, then to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. During the early evening of March 31, 2023, they were transported to the Spring Grove Funeral Home on Spring Grove Avenue.
Visitation was held 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the Spring Grove Funeral Home. A funeral service was held and televised at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023. A cortege of hundreds of police officers and patrol cars escorted Officer Unwin’s remains to his burial at Arlington Memorial Gardens with hundreds of citizens lining the route to pay tribute.
Memorials may be made to The Shield, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
William Dunson
Deacon William Kenneth “Kenny” Dunson was born April 3, 1972 to Annie Harrison-Dunson and Ralph Brown, Jr. He attended Lakeside Elementary School and graduated from Greenhills High School in 1990.
William worked for Fifth Third Bank’s Collections, Foreclosure and Valuation teams.
William was a member of the Greater Emanuel Apostolic Temple, Director of the Greater Emanuel Book Store, member of the 4th Sunday Men’s Usher Board, Men’s Ministry, and Married Couples for Jesus, and supported the GEAT Youth and Young Adult Department. At Hope for You, he was appointed a Deacon, a member of the Usher Board, Deacon’s Board, and Men’s Ministry, and would help with Safety and Security when called upon.
He was predeceased by his mother, Mrs. Annie Pearl Harrison Dunson, and brother, Mr. Arville O. “Sonny” Dunson. Deacon Dunson is survived by his wife of 23 years, Erica Dion; children, Eric Leon, Aaron Eugene, Emmanuel Kenneth, and Ana Marie Grace; fathers, Arville O. Dunson, Sr. and Ralph Brown, Jr.; brother, Erric A. Dunson; mother-in-law, Ernestine (Bobby) Posey-Thompson; and siblings-in-law, Sandy and Marcus (Brian).
A visitation and funeral service was held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at the Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church in North College Hill. Springfield Township officers participated.
If you have information, archives, artifacts, or images regarding this officer or incident, please contact the Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society at Memorial@Police-Museum.org.
© This narrative was created and modified during April 2023 by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Kramer (Retired), Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society President. All rights are reserved to him and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum.