EUCLID, Ohio — As the Euclid Police Department remembers officer Jacob Derbin, who died in the line of duty on Saturday, 3News is learning more about his life and his legacy.
Derbin was the Euclid police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Saturday, May 11. 3News has learned that Derbin was supposed to marry his fiancée, Liv Wuebker, on July 27 this summer. In 2018, Derbin graduated from Cuyahoga Heights High School.
"He was a gentle giant. He loved public service," said Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer. "This somebody who is still in the Army Reserves, who served his country. Public service meant everything to him. He was kind of a happy-go-lucky kind of a guy. He just loved public service and loved being here. He was that rare find."
How long was he with the Euclid Police Department?
Derbin joined the Euclid police force less than a year ago on July 24, 2023, following in the footsteps of his father, who is also an officer at the department. The 23-year-old dedicated his short life to public service, having previously served in the army reserves.
Details of the deadly incident
Derbin died on Saturday night after responding to a call for aggravated menacing on East 211th Street. Upon arriving at the scene, officers went to check the backyard and were ambushed by gunfire from the suspect. Officer Derbin was shot and died as a result of his injuries. Officers returned fire at the suspect, 24-year-old Deshawn Anthony Vaughn, but he fled the scene on foot. On Sunday, Vaughn was involved in an hours-long standoff in Shaker Heights, where he later died.
When is the funeral for Jacob Derbin?
Calling hours will be on Friday, May 17, from 3-8 p.m. at A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home on Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights. The funeral service for Derbin will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, at St. Columbkille Church on Broadview Road in Parma. The burial will be held following the service at St. Mary's Cemetery in Cuyahoga Heights.
How can you help Officer Derbin's family?
A GoFundMe has been set up to help "to quickly help the Derbin Family and Jacob's fiancée." You can click here to make a donation.
How is he being remembered?
Chief Meyer remembered Derbin for his "kind heart and enormous smile."
“I don’t want to lose the fact that we have a 23-year-old human being. Jacob, I could count on him every single time to do the right thing, make the right decision," said Meyer. "He was kind. He was compassionate. He was tactically sound, I don’t want anybody to think that he wasn’t."
Below is a video of more of Meyer's remarks during a press conference on Sunday night:
Cuyahoga Heights High School Superintendent released the following statement about Derbin:
"It is with great sympathy that I inform you that Jacob Derbin, a 2018 Cuyahoga Heights High School graduate and a City of Euclid police officer, was killed in the line of duty in Euclid last evening.
Jacob comes from a long line of police officers in his family. He also has two half brothers who are currently students at Cuyahoga Heights and one half brother who graduated a few years ago.
Students will be informed of the situation Monday morning and offered the opportunity to talk with grief counselors who will be on hand. A moment of silence will be observed in Jacob’s memory.
Counselors will be available for any students or staff members who need support as they mourn the loss of one of our own.
The entire Cuyahoga Heights Schools’ community extends deepest sympathy to the Derbin family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers."