(LONDON, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and law enforcement officers from throughout the state gathered today to honor more than 700 Ohio police officers who have died in the line of duty since 1823, including three who died in 2012.
"These men and women put the safety of their communities before their personal safety," said Attorney General DeWine. "We should never forget the sacrifices they made and the sacrifices our law enforcement officers continue to make on a daily basis."
Today's annual Ohio Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony was held at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio, where the Ohio Fallen Officers' Memorial Wall stands as a lasting tribute to Ohio's 755 officers who gave their lives for their communities. Six new names were added to the wall this year, including:
- Officer Frank Mancini, Akron Police Department: Officer Mancini died on January 23, 2012, from complications resulting from a gunshot wound sustained in 1965. Mancini and two fellow officers were shot after stopping a car suspected of being involved in a robbery. While searching the suspects, a struggle ensued and one of the men fired at the officers, paralyzing Mancini and Officer Harold Wintrow. The third officer, Eugene Hooper, was killed.
- Officer Jason Gresko, Willoughby Police Department/Cleveland Clinic Police Department: Officer Gresko died September 21, 2012, from injuries sustained in a traffic accident while responding to an emergency call. He was on his way to help another officer when an oncoming vehicle turned in front of his cruiser. He swerved to avoid the vehicle, and his cruiser hit a tree.
- Officer Marcia Figueroa, Cleveland Police Department: Officer Figueroa died from complications resulting from a medical emergency on November 4, 2012, while providing security at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport prior to a national political campaign event.
The following historical inductees were added after research discovered that they had made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities many years ago.
- Officer Harold Wintrow, Akron Police Department: Officer Wintrow died August 27, 1993, from complications resulting from a gunshot wound sustained in 1965. Wintrow and two fellow officers were shot after stopping a car suspected of being involved in a robbery. While searching the suspects, a struggle ensued and one of the men fired at the officers, paralyzing Wintrow and Officer Frank Mancini. The third officer, Eugene Hooper, was killed.
- Officer Owen Grandstaff, Bluffton Police Department: Officer Grandstaff was killed on March 26, 1927, after collapsing from an apparent heart attack during a foot pursuit. (No photo available)
- Officer Frank Herrmann, Bluffton Police Department: Officer Herrmann died on September 5, 1929, after being hit by a vehicle he had attempted to stop for speeding. (No photo available)
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840