EUCLID, Ohio — Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer can appreciate the hurt that's being felt in the Cleveland Division of Police as they mourn the loss of Officer Jamieson Ritter, who was fatally shot on July 4.
"My heart just sank. It's just those calls as a chief, it's one of your greatest nightmares," Meyer told 3News on Friday.
The "call" that Meyer received was on May 11, letting him know that Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call. Derbin's memory is still on full display at the Euclid Police Department.
"We’re navigating it, we’ll never get over it, we’ll never get through it. But, we’ll learn to live with it. We like to take the positive aspects of that officer," Meyer said. "Officer Derbin was an amazing young man."
Less than two months later, another "amazing," young Northeast Ohio police officer is dead.
"Officer Ritter was very similar (to Derbin) in that regard. It seemed like he was a young man doing all the right things and public service meant to them," said Meyer.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 26 law enforcement officers nationwide have been fatally shot this year. Data shows at least 48 officers did from gunfire last year.
"Many times, these officers are the difference between life and death of individuals, and in some instances, these officers give their lives for that," Meyer added.
Ritter was one of several Cleveland police officers who responded to a call in the 1500 block of East 80th "for a male wanted for a felonious assault from a local suburb."
"Officers arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with the male," Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd said. "The male did exit the house and tried to leave the area on a bicycle. Officers attempted to arrest the male when the male produced a firearm and began firing multiple times. One of our members was struck by one of those bullets. He was transported to the hospital and he did expire at the hospital from his injuries."
De'Lawnte Hardy, the 24-year-old man accused of fatally shooting Ritter, has been charged with aggravated murder. Hardy made his first court appearance in the case Friday morning where a judge set his bond at $5 million.
3News' Ryan Haidet contributed to this story.
Previous Reporting:
- Tributes pour in for Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter, who was killed in the line of duty
- $5 million bond set for murder suspect De'Lawnte Hardy in shooting death of Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter
- Cleveland police officer killed in overnight shooting identified as Jamieson Ritter
- Breaking updates: Cleveland police officer dies in overnight shooting