Widows shed tears over lost husbands, daughters remembered their father’s last words, and brothers in blue mourned Wednesday at the 2016 Lorain County Police Memorial.
“I have seen firsthand the dedication, commitment, risk, and rewards of our profession. When one of us bleeds we all bleed,” said keynote speaker U.S. Marshal Peter Elliot, grieving for the 35 law enforcement officers who have died so far this year in the line of duty. “It seems lately, with all that is going on in our nation, we in law enforcement are bleeding a lot. Anymore, it is a weekly and daily occurrence. Good men. Family men.”
His heartache was felt by the more than 1,000 gathered in front of Wellington town hall, where this year’s ceremony was held.
Police from all over Lorain County donned dress uniforms and saluted in memory of 16 local officers who have died down through the decades.
Among them was Amherst constable Rupert Becker, gunned down April 10, 1916, by quarry worker Martin Bischoff. After an argument earlier that night with a Church Street bar patron, Bischoff bought a revolver from a nearby hardware store, then opened fire on police. Two others were wounded in the attack but Becker was shot four times and died of his injuries.
A delegation of four Amherst police officers attended. Ptl. Christopher Alten placed a rose at the foot of a memorial in Becker’s honor.
This year’s ceremony, for the first time, also honored four officers with Lorain County experience who died serving elsewhere.
They are Officer Leonard Wilcox (Elyria police, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs police), Trooper Robert Perez (Lorain police corrections, Ohio State Highway Patrol), Cpl. Dyke Coursen (LaGrange police, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, S.C.), and Officer Jason West (Avon police, Cleveland Heights police).
Among those to take the lectern Wednesday was Holly Miktarian, widow of Twinsburg officer Joshua Miktarian. He died July 13, 2008, during a traffic stop.
“My husband was senselessly shot and killed by a monster named Ashford Thompson. After my husband collapsed, Ashford Thompson bent down, pressed the muzzle of the gun on my husband’s forehead, and pulled the trigger three more times,” she said, voice shaking. “Thompson got in his car, and left my Josh on the side of the road where he took his last breath alone… His fearless K-9 was still in the police cruiser struggling to get out and save his master. The memories of that horrible morning will be forever etched in my mind. The dreaded knock on the door. The race to the hospital. The doctors. The shock of holding my husband’s cold hand. I ended that week with a folded flag.”
Alone with their three-month-old daughter, Holly, herself a retired Oakwood police officer, vowed to find justice for her husband. She found a measure of peace when Thompson was sentenced to death row — but there he continues to sit, eight years later.
“Our beautiful daughter Thea just turned eight years old and she is my world. We talk about her daddy quite often and his pictures are always on display in our home,” Holly said, later adding, “It is true in saying that we must move on with our lives but we shouldn’t stop talking about our fallen. We shouldn’t be uncomfortable when their names hit our lips. They gave their all so why shouldn’t we keep their memories alive.”
Jason Hawk and Jonathan Delozier can be reached at 440-988-2801 or @EditorHawk and @DelozierNews on Twitter.
Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times The flag is carried forward Wednesday to be folded in memory of 16 officers who have died in Lorain County in the line of duty — and four others who served locally but died outside the county.
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Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times The flag is carried forward Wednesday to be folded in memory of 16 officers who have died in Lorain County in the line of duty — and four others who served locally but died outside the county.
Amherst Ptl. Christopher Alten bears a rose in memory of Rupert Becker, the city constable shot 100 years ago.
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Amherst Ptl. Christopher Alten bears a rose in memory of Rupert Becker, the city constable shot 100 years ago.
Lieutenants Dan Makruski and Mark Cawthon smile, wearing brand new dress uniforms.
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Lieutenants Dan Makruski and Mark Cawthon smile, wearing brand new dress uniforms.
An honor guard folds the flag with precision.
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An honor guard folds the flag with precision.
Pipers play with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Drum and Bugle Corps.
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Pipers play with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Drum and Bugle Corps.
Pipers play with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Drum and Bugle Corps.
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Pipers play with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Drum and Bugle Corps.
Police academy cadets from Lorain County Community College salute as the flag is raised to half staff.
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Police academy cadets from Lorain County Community College salute as the flag is raised to half staff.
The crowd stands in silent respect as the National Anthem is played.
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The crowd stands in silent respect as the National Anthem is played.
A flag is folded and presented at the memorial ceremony.
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A flag is folded and presented at the memorial ceremony.
The shattering sound of a 21-gun salute echoes across the village green in front of Wellington town hall.
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The shattering sound of a 21-gun salute echoes across the village green in front of Wellington town hall.
Holly Miktarian’s face contorts in pain as she recounts the day her husband, Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian, was murdered.
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Holly Miktarian’s face contorts in pain as she recounts the day her husband, Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian, was murdered.
Keynote speaker U.S. Marshal Peter Elliot says law enforcement blood is spilling every week.
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Keynote speaker U.S. Marshal Peter Elliot says law enforcement blood is spilling every week.
‘We must move on with our lives but we shouldn’t stop talking about our fallen’
By Jason Hawk and Jonathan Delozier