Ohio chief justice lauds work of cops at Columbiana memorial service

May 8, 2015 at 12:06a.m.

COLUMBIANA

A series of controversial, high-profile fatal police shootings has occurred during the past year, but that should not be a justification for casting all officers in a negative light, the Ohio Supreme Court’s chief justice contends.

That was a main theme that coursed through a presentation by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor delivered during Thursday’s annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at Das Dutch Village Inn, 150 E. State Route 14.

Sponsoring the somber, two-hour gathering to honor current and fallen officers locally and nationally was the Salem-based Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge 88.

“I have grieved with them and with their families,” she told an audience of about 250 area police officers and others, referring to law-enforcement personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. “The pain may ease, but it never fades.”

The tiny minority of officers who abuse their power and oath to serve should be held accountable, the chief justice noted.

Nevertheless, the public should not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority uphold a strong work ethic and are dedicated to protecting their communities while sometimes placing their lives on the line, Justice O’Connor said.

In addition, many officers are subjected to post- traumatic stress disorder, work long hours while sacrificing family time and deal with daily job pressures, she continued.

“We’re living in difficult, unnerving times for officers,” added Justice O’Connor, who was Ohio’s lieutenant governor from 1999 to 2003 and was director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

The chief justice also told her audience one of the best ways to salute fallen officers is to honor and thank those who continue the hard work of keeping their communities safe. In addition, she commended officers’ family members for their support.

Also at the luncheon, Lt. Donn Beeson of the Salem Police Department read aloud the names of more than 100 officers from 34 states who have been killed in the line of duty. One of those was Michael T. Hartzell, a Youngstown police officer who was shot to death April 29, 2003, while doing paperwork in his cruiser.

Making additional remarks was Hartzell’s father, Howard Hartzell, who thanked Lodge 88 for remembering and honoring his son.

Also during the ceremony, Justice O’Connor presented to the Columbiana County court system a $78,814 grant from the Ohio Supreme Court’s Ohio Courts Technology Initiative.

Much of the funding will go toward upgrading the system’s video-arraignment capabilities, which promises to decrease the amount of time and money for transporting inmates for court hearings.