Mill Creek MetroParks board honors officer who died of ALS

YOUNGSTOWN — Mill Creek MetroParks officials paid their respects to Sgt. Brian Newhard, a member of the MetroParks and Jackson Township police departments who on Wednesday died after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

“It was a somber day for us,” said MetroParks police Chief Jim Willock, who spoke emotionally at tonight’s park board meeting about Newhard, 38, a married father of three who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease last month, just months after he was hired by the park.

“He was one of those officers who cared,” Willock said. “Whether it was someone he arrested, or a victim, or another police officer, he just went out of his way to help people.”

“He literally did not stop working until about a week before he died,” Willock said, recalling how other officers helped Newhard get into the office when the disease hindered his ability to walk.

Donations to the Newhard family can be made online at www.newhardalsfund.org or to the Newhard Family Trust at Home Savings and Loan.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com