CLEVELAND — It has happened again — the gut-wrenching news of another police officer fatally gunned down.
Northeast Ohio hears the cries of mourners as the community once again wrings its hands over murder of a member of law enforcement. This time, it is a Cleveland police officer killed in the line of duty, shot during the early hours of Independence Day — July 4 — a time when the community prepares for evening and the anticipated and celebrated staccato sounds of fireworks.
Only on the morning of this July 4 came the grim and ghastly sound of gunfire. In the crosshairs of a gunman was Officer Jamieson Ritter, who with several other officers was attempting to a issue a felony warrant on a man wanted for the shooting of his grandmother.
Police say it was that man who fired at and hit Officer Ritter who later died of the wounds.
So, once again, we as a community mourn. Shooting through what should be community tranquility are so many murders of so many people, this time, again, a police officer.
So we will gather again soon. We will line the streets again as the funeral procession passes by. The ranks of officers in blue will render salutes as family and friends and colleagues and community cry.
The hurt is community-wide; so should be the anger. It was July 4, hours before the boom of celebratory red, white, and blue fireworks colored the sky amid community cheers. Instead, there came the unsettling and horrible blast of gunfire, and a peace officer in blue went down.
So we grieve again over the loss Officer Jamieson Ritter, who tried to do his duty because had sworn to serve and protect us all.