Officer killed in the line of duty

Beacon Journal

BOSTON HEIGHTS, Ohio — In his short career with the police, Boston Heights officer Jerod Dean made his mark at three Akron-area departments.

Dean, 24, of Hudson, was killed in the line of duty Monday when a small box truck struck him on state Route 8.

Lt. Eric Sheppard of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Dean was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheppard said the officer, who was not married, was struck after being dispatched to clear debris from the road about 5:30 a.m. Monday.

John Gavelek, 51, of Garfield Heights, was operating a 2003 Isuzu box truck hauling vending machine material to Akron, when “he failed to see officer Dean and struck him,” the patrol reported.

Boston Heights Police Chief Joe Varga described Dean as very energetic. “He wanted to get out there and do it,” Varga said.

Dean had been a police officer for 21‚Ñ2 years, previously working for Windham village in Portage County and Waynesburg in Stark County.

He had been with the Boston Heights department since August, Varga said.

“He loved his job. He loved coming out here,” Varga said.

John Dean, Jarod’s brother, is a police officer in Hudson.

Varga said Dean is the first police officer in the village to die in the line of duty. Dean was one of 15 officers in the department.