CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cleveland police officer who was tragically killed on the Fourth of July was honored Monday.
The Cleveland Division of Police held a memorial service for Officer Jamieson Ritter at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist.
Officers carried Ritter’s casket out of the funeral home just after 9 a.m., and the procession, escorted by motorcycle officers, started shortly thereafter.
Mourners assembled outside the church for the memorial service early Monday, and Ritter’s body was carried into the church just after 10:15 a.m.
“He was our hero,” said Father Doug Brown, a chaplain with the Cleveland Division of Police, as Ritter’s body was brought to the front of the church.
“He knew that he could make a dent in the eternal battle of good versus evil. He chose to protect people who were not from his hometown and sacrificed his life for people he didn’t even know. He was a great officer because he was a great person,” Brown added.
Ritter, just 27 years old, had been with the department for four years. He was part of a team that responded to the area of Wade Park for a report of a wanted man.
The suspect tried to escape on a bike, pulled out a gun, and began firing, fatally hitting Ritter.
Cleveland Division of Police Chief Annie Todd spoke powerfully at the service. “In his years of service, Jamieson demonstrated what it means to be truly dedicated to the safety and well-being of others,” Chief Todd said.
“His compassion for those in need and his relentless pursuit of justice were evident in every action he took. A beacon of hope and a symbol of strength,” she described him.
She also urged everyone to honor Ritter by continuing his work and upholding his values.
Ritter’s partner, Patrol Officer Brittany Vajusi, tearfully said, “My nightmare came true. If there’s one thing I can ask of everyone here today and everyone watching in Cleveland, New York, and around the world: Please never forget Officer Jamieson Ritter.
He was my best friend, my brother, and the absolute epitome of a police officer.” Before the service, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb met with Ritter’s family.
Mayor Bibb expressed his heartbreak over the loss and extended his deepest condolences to Ritter’s family, friends, and colleagues.
He urged prayers for the family and the Cleveland Division of Police as they mourned this senseless loss and assured that efforts were underway to bring the perpetrator to justice.
A funeral for Ritter is being held in New York state, where he grew up. The suspect, Delawnte Hardy, 24, has been taken into custody and charged with aggravated murder.
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