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In the Line of Duty

According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, on average—one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 57 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.  According to Ohio COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors), Ohio ranks 5th in the nation for the number of police officers killed in the line of duty.

The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police is a premier organization by and for Ohio’s Police Chiefs and as the OACP represents our police leaders, our leaders represent the many police agencies and officers within our local communities.

In light of such representation it is appropriate that when one of our officers gives the ultimate sacrifice of his or her life, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police will honor that sacrifice as a symbol from all of Ohio’s police chiefs of the commitment and dedication made to our profession and for the people of Ohio.

Based on information from: www.odmp.org

2023

Deputy Joshua Hamilton
Preble County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: December 18, 2023
Cause of Death: Automobile Accident

Deputy Marcus Zeigler
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

EOW: May 26, 2023
Cause of Death: Medical Emergency

Police Officer Timothy Unwin, III
Springfield Township Police Department

EOW: March 31, 2023
Cause of Death: Automobile Crash

2022

Deputy Sheriff Matthew Yates
Clark County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: July 24, 2023
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Dominic Francis
Bluffton Police Department
EOW: March 31, 2022
Cause of Death: Vehicular Assault

Agent John Dale Stayrook
Medina County Drug Taskforce
EOW: February 6, 2022
Cause of Death: COVID19

2021

Officer Joshua E. Kristek
Medina County Juvenile Detention Center
EOW: October 24, 2021
Cause of Death: COVID19

 Patrolman Sean E. VanDenberg
Lawrence Township Police Department
EOW: December 25, 2021
Cause of Death: COVID19

Police Officer Shane Henry Bartek
Cleveland Police Department
EOW: December 31, 2021
Cause of Death: Gunshot

Corrections Lieutenant David W. Reynolds
Butler County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Thursday, September 30, 2021
Cause of Death: COVID19

Deputy Sheriff Robert Craig Mills
Butler County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Cause of Death: COVID19

Police Officer Scott Russell Dawley
Nelsonville Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Cause of Death: Automobile crash

Natural Resources Officer Jason Lagore
ODNR-Division of State Parks and Watercraft OH
EOW: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Cause: Duty related illness

Deputy Sheriff Donald Raymond Gilreath, III
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Friday, February 12, 2021
Cause of Death: COVID19

Police Officer Brandon M. Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, January 18, 2021
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2020

Detective James M. Skernivitz
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, September 3, 2020
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Anthony Dia
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, July 4, 2020
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Kaia LaFay Grant
Springdale Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 21, 2020
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

2019

K9 Cane
Logan County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: November 14, 2019
Cause of death: Training accident

Detective Jorge Rene DelRio
Dayton Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, November 7, 2019
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Detective William Brewer
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Dale James Woods
Colerain Township Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, January 7, 2019
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

2018

K9 Benzi
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Saturday, September 1, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)

Police Officer Vu X. Nguyen
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: Friday, July 6, 2018
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Police Officer Mathew J. Mazany
Mentor Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, June 24, 2018
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

K9 Officer Eric Joseph Joering
Westerville Division of Police, OH
EOW: Saturday, February 10, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Anthony Pasquale Morelli
Westerville Division of Police, OH
EOW: Saturday, February 10, 2018
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2017

Police Officer Justin Leo
Girard Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, October 21, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Dino
Green Township Police Department
EOW: Monday, September 25, 2017
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Patrolman Marvin Scott Moyer
Lancaster Police Department
EOW: Friday, May 26, 2017
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Chief of Police Steven Eric DiSario
Kirkersville Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, May 12, 2017
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer David J. Fahey, Jr.
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

2016

Police Officer Aaron J. Christian
Chesapeake Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Trooper Kenneth V. Velez
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Thursday, September 15, 2016
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Police Officer Sean Richard Johnson
Hilliard Division of Police, OH
EOW: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident

Police Officer Steven Michael Smith
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Thomas Cottrell
Danville Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, January 17, 2016
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Jethro
Canton Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, January 10, 2016
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2015

K9 Falko
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Sonny Kim
Cincinnati Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, June 19, 2015
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Michael Brandle
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Thursday, May 21, 2015
Cause of Death: Heart attack

2014

Police Officer Justin Winebrenner
Akron Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, November 16, 2014
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Beny
Montville Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, September 28, 2014
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion

2013

Police Officer Jonathan R. Long
Akron Police Department
EOW: Thursday, August 15, 2013
Cause: Vehicle pursuit

2012

Police Officer Jason Edward Gresko
Willoughby Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, September 21, 2012
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

K9 Zak
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion

K9 Andy
Vermilion Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Cause of Death: Fall

Police Officer Frank Dennis Mancini
Akron Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, January 23, 2012
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2011

K9 Bungee
New Albany Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Sergeant Brian Scott Dulle
Warren County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Police Officer Andrew Scott Dunn
Sandusky Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 19, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Captain Daniel Patrick Stiles
Uniontown Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Police Officer Jonathan V. Bastock
Stow Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, February 5, 2011
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Police Officer Tom Hayes
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Thursday, January 20, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Michelle Hopper
Clark County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Saturday, January 1, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2010

Sergeant James Anthony Kerstetter
Elyria Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, March 15, 2010
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Thomas F. Patton, II
Cleveland Heights Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Thursday, February 4, 2010
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Chief of Police Carl Ellis Worley
Ross Township Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Cause of Death: Heart attack

2009

Police Officer Jarod Michael Dean
Boston Heights Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Monday, January 19, 2009
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle while clearing debris from a previous accident

2008

Deputy Sheriff William Kenneth Chadwell
Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Deputy Sheriff Marty Michael Martin
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer Timothy Allen Haley
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Police Officer Joshua T. Miktarian
Twinsburg Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Derek Wayne Owens
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 1, 2008
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2007

Police Officer Brian Evans
Mansfield Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer George Brentar
Euclid Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Trooper Jack P. Holland, II
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Cause of Death: Animal related

Special Deputy Stephen Bollinger
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, August 5, 2007
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Officer Jason West
Cleveland Heights Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, May 26, 2007
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Probation Officer David Poling
Gallipolis Municipal Court, OH
EOW: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Cause of Death: Drowned

Detective Keith Dressel
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2006

Reserve Deputy Lawrence M. Barnes, Sr.
Ross County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

Sergeant Dale Rodney Holcomb
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Thursday, September 28, 2006
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Trooper Joshua Patrick Risner
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Thursday, September 28, 2006
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer Jonathan James “AJ” Schroeder
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, August 31, 2006
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Ethan G. Collins
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

2005

Chief of Police William Burkett
Plymouth Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, July 1, 2005
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Larry Randolph Cox
Chillicothe Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, April 21, 2005
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Bryan S. Hurst
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Thursday, January 6, 2005
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2004

Police Officer Melissa M. Foster
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Saturday, December 4, 2004
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Deputy Sheriff Brandy Lyn Winfield
Marion County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, October 14, 2004
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2003

Police Officer Kelli Lee Lambert
Wellston Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, July 21, 2003
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Patrolman Michael Thomas Hartzell
Youngstown Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Correction Officer Michael Wilson Douds
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Saturday, April 5, 2003
Cause of Death: Heart attack

2002

Park Ranger James Royce Pitney
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, OH
EOW: Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Cause of Death: Accidental

Patrolman Richard Wallace Martin
Howland Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, December 14, 2002
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Mary Lynn Beall
Dayton Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, August 25, 2002
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrolman Eric Bradford Taylor
Massillon Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, August 9, 2002
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Robert Michael Tanner, Jr.
Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Cause of Death: Gunfire

2001

Trooper Frank Galvan Vazquez
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Tuesday, November 6, 2001
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Police Officer Terry McDowell
Whitehall Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, August 24, 2001
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Charles Leon McDonald
Forest Park Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, June 9, 2001
Cause of Death: Duty related illness

Lieutenant Christopher Neal Claypool
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Sunday, April 29, 2001
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Deputy Sheriff James Michael Salvino, Jr.
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, February 17, 2001
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Correction Officer Wayne Mitchell
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Friday, February 2, 2001
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

2000

Police Officer Kevin Curtis Crayon
Cincinnati Police Division, OH
EOW: Friday, September 1, 2000
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Police Officer William Jay Hetrick
Clay Township Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, July 10, 2000
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer Wayne A. Leon
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, June 25, 2000
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Trooper Robert Perez, Jr.
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Monday, May 15, 2000
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

1998

Detective Robert James Clark, II
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, July 1, 1998
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Captain Charles Douglas Conley
Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Saturday, May 9, 1998
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer John Paul Kalaman
Centerville Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, January 12, 1998
Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle

1997

Police Officer Daniel J. Pope
Cincinnati Police Division, OH
EOW: Friday, December 5, 1997
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Specialist Ronald D. Jeter
Cincinnati Police Division, OH
EOW: Friday, December 5, 1997
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Michael W. Muzychenko
Lyndhurst Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, November 25, 1997
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Patrolman William Douglas Glover, Jr.
Ashtabula Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, November 18, 1997
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Chief of Police William R. Ricketts
New Middletown Police Department, OH
EOW: Wednesday, April 2, 1997
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Corrections Officer Shirlene A. Jenkins
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Tuesday, February 11, 1997
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Michael Blankenship
Ohio State University Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, February 10, 1997
Cause of Death: Gunfire

1996

Patrol Officer Hilary S. Cudnik
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, December 30, 1996
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrol Officer Edward Claybrooks
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, December 28, 1996
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Lieutenant Duane M. Guhl
Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Wednesday, October 30, 1996
Cause of Death: Struck by train

Sergeant Douglas Duane Springer
Coldwater Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, August 1, 1996
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Patrol Officer Brian Craig Roshong
Canton Police Department, OH
EOW: Monday, July 22, 1996
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Jason K. Grossnickle
Dayton Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, May 23, 1996
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer I Carmen J. “Skip” Renda, Jr.
Youngstown State University Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 16, 1996
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Derrik Lanier
Cuyahoga Metro Housing Authority Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, March 2, 1996
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Trooper James R. Gross
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Friday, January 19, 1996
Cause of Death: Gunfire

1995

Police Officer Keith Lee Evans
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Sunday, July 9, 1995
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Deputy Sheriff Chad Steven Edwards
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Thursday, May 18, 1995
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Sergeant Marc Muncy
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Wednesday, April 5, 1995
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Lieutenant John Paul Gisclon
Ashland County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, January 14, 1995
Cause of Death: Gunfire

1994

Patrolman Robert A. Stefanov
Garfield Heights Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, December 8, 1994
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit

Patrolman Michael W. Brown
Garfield Heights Police Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, December 8, 1994
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit

Patrolman George R. Knaff
Akron Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, November 5, 1994
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Sergeant Dennis N. Glivar
Garfield Heights Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, August 14, 1994
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Lieutenant Michael J. Lutz
Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, July 12, 1994
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Correction Officer Dennis Lee Stemen
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Tuesday, July 5, 1994
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Deputy Sheriff Ronald L. Coen
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, OH
EOW: Thursday, January 27, 1994
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

1993

Police Officer Chris Edward Clites
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Friday, December 10, 1993
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Correction Officer Robert B. Vallandingham
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Wednesday, April 14, 1993
Cause of Death: Assault

Patrolman Thomas J. Smith
Cleveland Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, March 9, 1993
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Patrolman Brett David Markwood
Lancaster Police Department, OH
EOW: Sunday, February 21, 1993
Cause of Death: Gunfire

1992

Corrections Officer Thomas Davis, Jr.
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Thursday, June 25, 1992
Cause of Death: Stabbed

Detective Sergeant Millard Williams
Youngstown Police Department, OH
EOW: Tuesday, April 14, 1992
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Patrolman Ben James Franklin
Akron Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, January 10, 1992
Cause of Death: Heart attack

1991

Wildlife Officer Larry Allen Hart
Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Division of Wildlife, OH
EOW: Saturday, December 7, 1991
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Police Officer Raymond E. Radel
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Thursday, April 25, 1991
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer William Steven Whalen
Dayton Police Department, OH
EOW: Friday, March 22, 1991
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Robin H. Nye
Columbus Division of Police, OH
EOW: Friday, January 4, 1991
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

1990

Trooper Kenneth A. Maloney
Ohio State Highway Patrol, OH
EOW: Saturday, July 28, 1990
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Corrections Employee Beverly Jo Taylor
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Thursday, June 7, 1990
Cause of Death: Stabbed

Deputy Sheriff Rodney Kevin Kinzy
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, OH
EOW: Tuesday, April 17, 1990
Cause of Death: Gunfire