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500 cycles run 50 miles to honor Mahoning County’s fallen police officers
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Riders take off in the eighth annual Our Fallen Offi cers Memorial Run in memory of Youngstown police offi cer Michael Hartzell and other police offi cers in the county and in Steubenville who were killed in the line of duty over the past 119 years.
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Gary Mathews of Ellsworth, a member of the Blue Knights of Ohio, and Patty Cleburn of Columbiana relax on the grass as they await the start of the eighth annual memorial motorcycle run. The Blue Knights co-sponsored the run.
MEMORIAL RUN
Remembering the fallen
An estimated 500 motorcycles filled the Covelli Centre parking lot Sunday for the start of the eighth annual Our Fallen Officers event, which honored the memory of Michael T. Hartzell and 23 other Mahoning
County law-enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. A few officers from Steubenville also were honored. The Mahoning officers, departments and dates they were killed:
William Freed, Youngstown, May 17,1891.
Alfred Evans, Youngstown, Nov. 5, 1911.
Samuel Banks, Youngstown, Oct. 4, 1919.
John Constantino, Campbell, May 11, 1920
Alexander Warren, Youngstown, May 3, 1921.
Walter Flickinger, Lowellville, June 7, 1923.
Joe Ruby, Campbell, Nov. 11, 1923.
George Leonard, Youngstown, March 29, 1924.
Ben Yeaden, Youngstown, Feb. 27, 1925.
Henry Clemens, Youngstown, Dec. 4, 1927.
John Harkins, Struthers, Jan. 1, 1952.
Raymond Darwich, Struthers, Nov. 16, 1952.
Frank Cichon, Youngstown, Dec. 21, 1963.
Albert Masi, Campbell, Feb. 12, 1973.
William “Bud” Comm, Youngstown State University, Aug. 12, 1975.
John “Sonny” Litch, Mahoning County
Sheriff ’s Department, Oct. 22, 1981.
Richard Becker, Poland Twp., Nov. 6, 1983.
Ralph DeSalle, Youngstown, June 13, 1984.
Paul Durkin, Youngstown, Sept. 21, 1987.
Millard Williams, Youngstown, April 14, 1992.
Steve Malkovits, Youngstown, May 21, 1993.
Carmen “Skip” Renda, Youngstown, March 16, 1996.
William Rickets, New Middletown, April 2, 1997.
Michael Hartzell, Youngstown, April 29, 2003.
By SEAN BARRON
news@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Karen Metzinger’s late brother was not in law enforcement, but suffering his loss helped to deepen her empathy for the families of police officers killed while serving their communities.
She feels their pain and decided to turn it into a plan.
“[Police officers] do a lot for us and put their lives on the line every single day for us,” the Austintown woman said, referring to a main reason she participated in today’s eighth annual Our Fallen Officers Memorial Run, which started at the Covelli Centre.
Metzinger and her husband, Jim, were among hundreds of motorcycle riders who took part in the 50-mile run throughout Mahoning County. The event was to honor the service and memory of Michael T. Hartzell and 26 other law-enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Mahoning County over the past 119 years. A few of those honored were from Steubenville.
Hartzell was shot to death April 29, 2003, while sitting in his cruiser in downtown Youngstown.
Roughly 500 motorcycles poured out of the facility onto Front Street to be in the run, organizers estimated.
Karen Metzinger said she was excited but a little nervous to participate for the first time in the event, which was sponsored by the Blue Knights of Ohio Chapter 27 and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 28, both of Youngstown.
Nevertheless, it’s important to show such support because police officers deserve more thanks than they typically receive, she added.
“They really do a hell of a job for us,” Metzinger said.
Riders paid $15 each to be in the run, which took them through Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville, New Middletown, Poland, Springfield and Beaver townships, and Canfield. The final destination was downtown Youngstown, where entertainment was provided.
Several speakers greeted attendees during a ceremony before they set out. The keynote was Phil Rogers, president of the Blue Knights chapter.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.