CLEVELAND — The school resource officer (SRO) who detained an off-duty Cleveland police officer who allegedly fired a gunshot in the parking lot of Riverview Elementary School in Painesville will receive an award from a national school violence advocacy foundation.
The One in Five Foundation for Kids, formerly known as the Uvalde Foundation For Kids, announced on social media Friday that the SRO, who is also a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, will receive a national award for heroism from the foundation.
"While there are many occasions where the foundation is faced with having to challenge failures and/or shortcomings in school safety measures and responses," the foundation said, "we are always seeking opportunities to recognize the heroic efforts of individuals & institutions across the nation, who go above and beyond 'duty,' to protect our students."
The Riverside Local School District praised the officer in a Facebook post, saying it is "extremely fortunate to have a great partnership with the Lake County Sheriff's Office."
"We cannot thank Deputy Ward enough for his quick, courageous and heroic actions yesterday morning at Riverview Elementary," the district said. "We also want to once again recognize all of our other School Safety Officers and School Resource Officers across the District who protect our staff and students on a daily basis."
On Wednesday morning, the officer returned to work at Riverview for the first time since the incident. The school district said he is "doing great and the students and staff are so happy to have their hero back."
The sheriff's office also posted a picture from the district's celebration, adding the department is "very proud of him."
The gunshot was allegedly fired by Alexander Sinclair, an off-duty member of the Cleveland Division of Police. According to Robert Izzo, the chief deputy for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sinclair’s vehicle collided with a car driven by a victim who shares a child with Sinclair before he allegedly exited his vehicle and approached the passenger side of the victim's car. Reports indicate that he then fired a shot through the vehicle’s windshield.
According to Izzo, the school’s resource officer quickly intervened and took Sinclair into custody. The school was placed on lockdown but was later able to resume normal operations.
The Cleveland Division of Police has suspended Sinclair, who has been charged with felonious assault, two counts of kidnapping and discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premise. Sinclair will have a preliminary court hearing on Monday, Nov. 4, at 8 a.m.
3News Digital Producer Anna Meyer contributed.
