CLEVELAND — The career and life of fallen Cleveland Division of Police officer Jamieson Ritter was honored on Monday during a memorial service at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
The first person to speak was Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd.
"Today, we gather to honor a true American hero: Officer Jamieson Ritter," Todd said at the start of her remarks. "Jamieson was a dedicated public servant, a loving family member, a cherished friend. He served our community with unwavering commitment and courage, embodying the highest ideals of law enforcement."
Todd directed the following portion of her remarks to the Ritter family:
“There are no words I can say to take away your pain and heartache. I hope that these last few days you have spent here in Cleveland have given you an opportunity to see how many lives Jamieson has touched and the impact he made on all of those he encountered. I pray that in meeting his classmates from the 147, his brothers and sisters from the Third District and his Division of Police family, hearing the stories of how Jamieson touched our lives, that you can always remember how loved he was by all of us. His legacy will live on in all those he has touched, the colleagues he’s inspired and the community he helped to build. While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate the incredible impact he had on all of us. Let us honor him by continuing his work, by upholding the values he stood for and by striving to make our community a better place just as he did every day."
Todd also relayed a conversation she had with Ritter's father, himself a former police officer.
"As his dad, John, said to me, he received his paycheck from the city, but he worked for our citizens.”
Ritter was fatally shot during the overnight hours of July 4 while responding to the 1500 block of East 80th Street for a man wanted for felonious assault. The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old De'Lawnte Hardy. He’s currently being held on a $5 million bond.
"Officer Jamieson Ritter, you will never be forgotten. Your spirit will continue to guide us, your dedication will continue to inspire us, and your memory will be forever in our hearts. On behalf of the city of Cleveland and the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police, I thank your for your service and sacrifice.," Todd said as she finished her remarks.
You can watch our complete coverage of Jamieson Ritter's memorial service below.
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