EUCLID, Ohio — Businesses in Euclid are putting blue ribbons on their storefronts in honor of fallen Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin. It all started Wednesday night, when Mama Catena shared a picture of their ribbon-adorned restaurant on social media, encouraging others to do the same.
“Jacob would come in with his little buddies at dinner time and they’d always get the corner and they’d order calzones, chicken parmesan, and cannolis," said Fran Catena, who co-owns the restaurant with her sister Rina Catena. "He was like a big ol' teddy bear. I'd be like, 'I need that from the top shelf over there, can you get it for me? He's like no problem.' He's like a big ol' teddy bear to us."
Derbin, 23, 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.
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 hourslong standoff in Shaker Heights, where he later died.
Rina told 3News his death hit even harder because they have a brother who is a police officer, and they have some understanding of how dangerous the job is.
"Having a policeman in our family, our hearts are just broken," she said. "So we wanted to get all the Euclid businesses to show their support by blueing it up!"
Just a couple of blocks away down Babbitt Road, the Paradise Island Saloon caught the memo. Along with blue ribbons, they've hung a banner that says, "God Bless PTL. Jacob Derbin."
"We did it to show our respect for him and his family and the community and the other officers," said manager Maryann Buckley. "The owner of Paradise, his son-in-law is an officer as well, not in Euclid, but it really just hit home with him. What a tragedy. How horrible, It was awful to hear. What a young guy."
Euclid Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dana Heil is hoping the blue ribbons will be a constant reminder to Euclid Police Department officers that they're loved and forever appreciated.
"As they drive through these neighborhoods protecting us, I think it's going to be very meaningful for them to know that we're praying for them, we're thinking about them, we haven't forgotten, and we're there to continue to support," she said.
In addition to the blue ribbons, Mama Catena is also donating 14% of all sales to the Euclid Police Department, the number 14 being Derbin's badge number.
