One law enforcement officer who died in 2013 and six who lost their lives in the line of duty in years past will be honored at this year’s Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. The 27th annual ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. May 1 at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.
Officer Jonathan Russell Long of the Akron Police Department died Aug. 15, 2013, of injuries related to a July 30, 1991, car accident. He and his partner were pursuing a fleeing suspect when their cruiser struck a utility pole. Officer Long was paralyzed from the neck down.
Law enforcement agencies have researched and nominated for recognition six individuals who died in previous years:
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Chief Deputy James F. Elliott of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office died April 12, 1930. A week earlier, he was injured in an accident while attempting to stop a car that had run a red light.
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Deputy Rea Christian Horlocker of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office died July 3, 1924, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was intentionally struck on his patrol motorcycle as he and fellow deputies attempted to apprehend a rum runner.
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Patrolman Charles Miller of the Salem Police Department died April 8, 1908, after a burglary suspect he was attempting to arrest pulled a gun and shot him.
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Patrolman Edward D. Piller of the Salem Police Department died from injuries sustained in an accident involving his patrol motorcycle April 25, 1936.
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Constable Joseph Rigney of the Rome Township Police Department was shot while serving a warrant July 29, 1952.
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Sheriff Fred Sperber of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office died Dec. 31, 1942, when his patrol vehicle collided with a streetcar.
Among the speakers this year is Bill Erfurth, a 25-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department and executive producer of a 2012 documentary, “Behind the Badge,” and a follow-up released in December. The films were made in partnership with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which receives a share of the proceeds.
For information
For additional details about the memorial ceremony, contact Kelly Cain of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy at 740-845-2684 or
Kelly.Cain@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
Officers interested in participating in the Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Motorcade, which will travel from Columbus to London the morning of the ceremony, should meet at the FOP State Lodge, 222 E. Town St., Columbus, at 8:30 a.m. To participate, call the FOP at 800-367-6524 by April 29.