CINCINNATI — It’s National Police Week, and the Cincinnati Police Department is honoring all of its fallen officers in its annual Police Memorial Parade. Officers are keeping the memory of fallen officers alive, especially the most recent from Ohio.
What You Need To Know
- The Cincinnati Police Department honored the officers killed in the line of duty at its annual police memorial
- Hundreds of officers across the region marched from Fountain Square to the police memorial at District One
- All of the fallen police officers who have died in the line of duty were honored during the ceremony
- The memorial comes just one day before Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin is laid to rest after he was killed in the line of duty last week
It’s always a somber day as the Cincinnati Police Department marches from Fountain Square in Downtown to its District One police memorial. And this year even more so as it’s less than a week after Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Just one day before Officer Derbin’s funeral, the Cincinnati Police Department remembers him as part of its annual police memorial.
“Anytime a law enforcement officer loses their life in the line of duty, we feel that we feel the effects of that nationwide," Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said. "But to have it happen in our own state of Ohio has an even greater impact.”
All of the officers who've died in the line of duty in the Cincinnati area were remembered, including the most recent loss, Deputy Marcus Zeigler who died last May. His family and young children were there to honor him.
“It's also important for the family of people who look like officers, who have lost their lives, that we remember them," Chief Theetge said. "We honor their families, and sacrifice for law enforcement and to let them know they're still part of our family of survivors.”
And despite the rain, hundreds of officers and community members showed up to pay their respects to those who have given the greatest sacrifice.
“That tells me that here in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and the region as a whole, there's a lot of people that support the police," Chief Theetge said. "You know, these men and women go out and do an amazing job every day, not knowing what the day's going to bring for them, not knowing if they're going to go home to their family. And so to have the Fountain Square filled with people who support us, I hope that sends a message to them that they truly are appreciated.”