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Beaver Twp. police recall devotion of late officer
Photo
Ball
By Elise Franco
North Lima
Cpl. James R. Ball was the only man of his kind to grace the halls of Beaver Township Police Department.
Ball, a 30-year-member of the department, died Jan. 23 after he was diagnosed with cancer in October.
Chief Carl Frost said he’d worked with Ball since the beginning of Ball’s career in 1982.
Frost, usually a man of few words, couldn’t say enough about the type of officer and person his former colleague was.
“He was just a salt-of-the-earth guy,” he said. “He would do whatever he was instructed to do and more.”
Ball, 51, was described as very laid-back and relaxed, qualities Frost said many police officers don’t possess.
“People would go to his house when he was off duty to talk to him about issues,” he said. “And Jim would never turn anyone away.
“He’s probably the only guy we have who’s like that.”
Detective Lt. Eric Dattilo, who worked with Ball for 17 years, called him “the best kind of guy you’d want representing your department.”
“He would check on people while out on his beat. ... He’d buy lunch for guys who couldn’t afford to buy it themselves,” Dattilo said.
The detective recalled a time when a local animal- welfare organization called to inform police of a horse left out in the cold. Dattilo said Ball went to the residence and found out the homeowner was a woman whose husband was fighting overseas.
“She was unable to build a shelter herself for the horse, so he went over on his own time and built one for her,” Dattilo said. “That’s just the way he was.”
Ball, who was married with two college-age daughters, joined the department as a reserve officer in 1982. He moved to part time in 1984 and joined the force full time in 1987.
Dattilo said Ball’s last day on the job was just like any other. He went home after working a double shift in late October and was taken to the hospital after falling seriously ill.
“It happened so suddenly,” he said. “You come in one week and you’ve got this strong, healthy guy. And now he’s gone.”
Frost said the Jan. 29 memorial service in Ball’s honor was one way the department banded together to try to cope with the loss.
“I think we’re all still in shock,” he said. “They kept telling us he’d be back to work in May. We always thought he was strong enough to come back.”
Frost said many residents have approached him since Ball’s death, offering their condolences.
“The common thing people say is, ‘You’ve lost one of your best,’” he said.
Dattilo said officers will work hard in the months after the loss of their comrade to keep alive the relationships Ball built with community members.
“We can’t underestimate the value of those relationships he built,” Dattilo said. “All of us have to become that point of contact now.
“A lot of people have a fear of coming to the police, but they weren’t afraid to go to Jimmy.”