BLUFFTON, Ohio — The village of Bluffton announced that funeral services for Bluffton Police Department Officer Dominic Francis are Friday at 11 a.m. at the Sommer Center at Bluffton University.

The 11 a.m. service will be followed by a burial ceremony at Clymer Cemetery.

What You Need To Know

• Funeral services for Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis are Friday at 11 a.m.


• Francis was fatally struck by a car during a police chase while laying spike strips along Interstate 75


• Authorities arrested three men in connection to last week’s police chase


• Officials said that Francis was active at Cory-Rawson High School as a coach, substitute teacher and bus driver

The village also announced a visitation is scheduled Thursday from 3:30-7 p.m. in the Cory-Rawson High School auditorium. The family requested that donations be made to the FOP Lodge 20 Foundation.

Officials said Francis was laying spike strips on Interstate 75 when he was fatally struck by a car.

Emin Johnson, 20, Zachary Love, 21,and Dante Tate, 19 were arrested following Thursday’s incident, according to a release issued by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Bluffton Police Chief Ryan M. Burkholder called Francis an “outstanding police officer.”

“His heart was big,” he said. “Not only was he a police officer, he was a school teacher, he was a bus driver, he was a coach to the youth in this community. He had a heart of gold. He will be sorely missed."

In addition to his duties as an officer, officials said Francis worked at Cory-Rawson High School where he was a strength and conditioning coach, football coach, substitute teacher and bus driver.