Remembering officers who have died in Januaries past…. we have their stories from the oldest fatality, Patrolman James H. Stedman, d. January 25, 1905, to the most recent, Patrol Officer David J. Fahey Jr., who died in 2017.
January
Patrolman James H. Stedman, d. January 25, 1905
Patrolman James H. Stedman was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department on July 1, 1895, and served in the First and Eighth Precincts. Most of his time was spent in the First Precinct. For the first few years of his service, he was in plain clothes. Three years prior to his death, Stedman was assigned to corner watch duty at the intersection of Euclid and Ontario Streets. With the exception of his vacation time, he was at this post every day of the year. His normal tour of duty was from shortly after noon to midnight at the most congested traffic point in the City of Cleveland…
Patrolman Herman Reimer, d. January 28, 1911
Patrolman Herman Reimer was one of our men in blue who died in his uniform with the blood from the wound in his heart coloring the blue of his coat a deep crimson…
Deputy Marshal Lawrence R. Yaxley, d. January 30, 1927
On July 1, 1926, Council for the Village of Mentor passed an ordinance which would provide a law enforcement officer for the village. This officer would be called a deputy marshal and his main function would be traffic enforcement. The only requirement was the officer must be a village resident. The young man they selected was, 21 year old Lawrence R. Yaxley…
Patrolman James F. Ryan, d. January 8, 1931
Patrolman James Ryan was the forty-second Cleveland Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty. Ryan was born in Ireland, his parents stayed behind when he came to the United States. James Ryan was a World War I veteran and served overseas…
Patrolman John J. Cleary, d. January 4, 1938
On January 7, 1931, Officers John J. Cleary, and James Ryan were working a plain clothes detail and were detailed to investigate a robbery at 2211 Franklin Avenue in Cleveland…
Patrolman James F. Goggin, d. January 13, 1939
Patrolman James Goggin was a nineteen year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department joining in 1920. For several years he was assigned to the Eleventh Precinct at East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue as a scout car driver. James Goggin was the fifty-eighth officer to die in the line of duty…
Sergeant Patrick Ryan, d. January 14, 1944
On January 14, 1944, Sergeant Patrick Ryan, a police veteran of forty years was killed in an automobile crash near Brookville, Florida as he and John J. Mahon, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, neared the end of a trip to pick up a vote-fraud suspect held in Miami, Florida.
Deputy Michael J. George, d. January 9, 1961
On Tuesday, January 3, 1961, deputies were towing a cruiser with another by tow chain. When the towed car started, Deputy George got out to unhook the chain. As he did so, an approaching vehicle struck the rear car and pinned Deputy George between the two cruisers. Deputy George sustained critical internal injuries and was transported to the Elyria Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries several days later on Monday, January 9, 1961.
Deputy Sheriff John P. Palermo, d. January 24, 1964
Deputy Palermo and Auxiliary Deputy Kubuske were on a routine pick-up ordered by the Lorain County Probate Court, of a mental patient. The court warrant stated 35 year old, Elbert Rush was to be transferred to Tiffin State Hospital…
Police Chief Michael Chihil, d. January 1, 1972
Deputy Sheriffs of Geauga County reported that Chief Chihil was driving east on Ohio 87 on his way to aid Burton Police chasing a speeder when his car smashed head-on into another vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road. The accident took place in front of St. Helen’s Catholic Church.
Patrolman Richard Miller, d. January 11, 1973
On January 11, 1973, East Cleveland Patrolman Richard T. Miller was operating his police cruiser in the area of Emily and Fay when he attempted to stop an auto for a traffic violation…
Patrol Officer Mark S. Decker, d. January 31, 1986
On January 31, 1986, Mark Decker and Leonard Wilcox reported to work at the Brecksville Veterans Administration Hospital. Both officers were armed only with mace due to administration policy that contended carrying guns would encourage more problems…
Patrol Officer Leonard B. Wilcox, d. January 31, 1986
On January 31, 1986, Mark Decker and Leonard Wilcox reported to work at the Brecksville Veterans Administration Hospital. Both officers were armed only with mace due to administration policy that contended carrying guns would encourage more problems…
Police Officer Jarod M. Dean, d. January 19, 2009
On Monday, January 19, 2009 at 5:30am, 24-year old officer Jarod M. Dean was struck and killed by a truck while clearing debris from the roadway on state route 8 in the Village of Boston Heights.
Patrolman David Fahey, d. January 24, 2017
While assigned to the First Neighborhood Police District, PO Fahey and his partner were dispatched to assist another agency investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident on Interstate 90. Fahey was in the process of redirecting traffic with road flares when he was struck and killed by a hit and run driver…
