LONDON, Ohio – May 2, 2024 – The solemn occasion of the 36th Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony will commence at 11 a.m. on May 2 at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London. This event stands as a poignant tribute to the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, honoring the memory of 836 Ohio peace officers since 1823, including nine heroes lost in recent years.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, alongside members of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission and law enforcement officers from across the state, will lead the commemoration.
The 2024 ceremony holds special significance as it pays tribute to peace officers who gave their lives between 2020 and 2023. Among those being honored are:
- Patrolman Mark U. Heinl, St. Henry Police Department
- Officer Gerald F. Lynch, Mentor Police Department
- Deputy Billy J. Ihrig, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Anthony E. Cloyd, University of Dayton Department of Public Safety
- Corporal Matthew D. Mitchell, South Vienna Police Department
- Deputy Terrance N. Bateman, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Timothy J. Unwin, Springfield Township Police Department
- Deputy Marcus L. Zeigler, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Joshua I. Hamilton, Preble County Sheriff’s Office
In addition to honoring recent losses, the ceremony will include the historical induction of Germantown Police Department Assistant Chief Orion Hale, who tragically lost his life in 1957 while responding to a call.
The event will take place at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, located at 1650 State Route 56 SW, London, Ohio 43140, commencing at 11 a.m.
Members of the media intending to cover the ceremony are kindly requested to RSVP to [email protected].
The annual Memorial Motorcade will commence at 10 a.m. from the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio State Lodge, located at 222 E. Town St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.
