Officers remember their fallen

The gunfire nearly took his left arm when it struck him, and it did take the life of Deputy Suzanne Hopper that New Year’s Day in 2011 at Enon Beach mobile home park in Clark County.

Even with those memories, Blum said returning to full-duty with the German Twp. police department was the second-happiest day of his life. His first— when he was sworn-in as an officer. And since then he’s never regretted wearing the badge.

“If not me then who? If not us, then who will do it? Who will go out there and fight the evil?” Blum said.

Blum shared his story with the dozens of officers and law enforcement family members gathered for the 9th annual Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony held Friday in Dayton.

The officers who addressed the crowd emphasized it was a dangerous and controversial time to work for a police department. Despite negativity surrounding controversial local and national confrontations between officers and the community, Officer Jay McDonald, president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, said that doesn’t stop them from serving and protecting.

“Why choose a career where you could be murdered just for the uniform you wear?” McDonald said. “It is not uncommon when an officer goes above-and-beyond what is expected of them. However, it is still rare, thankfully rare, when an officer does something controversial.”

Last year, 117 officers were killed on the job, and 50,000 more were assaulted. To date, 20,000 men and women have lost their lives while wearing the badge.

In Montgomery County, 36 officers have fallen in the line of duty. Each one was remembered with a white carnation, placed by a family member or fellow officer upon a memorial wreath. The father of Sgt. William K. Mortimer, who was killed in 1974, kissed his flower before placing it upon the memorial.

Blum said the ceremony served as a solemn reminder of the danger, and that those seeking to hurt officers “now have a spotlight” in which to do it.

“I’d say (to officers), keep doing what you’re doing. Watch each other’s back, keep your head on a swivel and go home at the end of your shift,” he said.