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Ex-Franklin wrestling star killed while on duty as Alaskan police officer

Tony Wallace was one of two police officers fatally shot during a standoff

Tony Wallace, a 1997 Franklin High School graduate and three-year state qualifier for wrestling, was one of two police officers fatally shot late Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 in Hoonah, Alaska.

AP Photo Tony Wallace, a 1997 Franklin High School graduate and three-year state qualifier for wrestling, was one of two police officers fatally shot late Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 in Hoonah, Alaska.

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By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer Updated 11:44 AM Monday, August 30, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A police standoff continues today, Aug. 30, in Alaska after a local high school graduate was shot and killed Aug. 28 while on duty as a police officer.

Tony Wallace, a 1997 Franklin High School graduate and three-year state qualifier for wrestling, was one of two officers fatally shot late Saturday in Hoonah, Alaska.

Authorities said the suspect in the shooting, John Marvin Jr., had barricaded himself in his Hoonah home. A special tactics police squad responded from Juneau, 40 miles to the east. As of Monday morning, Aug. 30, authorities have not reportedly apprehended Marvin.

Wallace’s death comes as a shock to his former wrestling coach, Steve Wesley, who said the shooting is “surreal.” He remembered Wallace as someone who didn’t let anything get in his way.

“He never let his disability stop him from doing anything,” he said of Wallace’s hearing impairment. “He never used it as an excuse. He just went on.”

Wesley said Wallace followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were both police officers.

“He wanted to be a cop all his life. It’s what he wanted to do,” he said.

After graduating high school, Wallace went on to wrestle for the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was a three-time All American and inducted into the school’s hall of fame.

“He had the second most wins out of anyone there. He just had a wonderful college career,” Wesley said.

According to Associated Press reports, in 2003, Wallace graduated with a degree in business administration and later joined campus Public Safety at RIT.

“On behalf of the RIT community, I extend condolences to Tony’s family, friends and colleagues. We recognize that his passing creates a void that cannot be filled, but we hope there is comfort in an outpouring of support,” said Bill Destler, RIT president.

During a 2009 interview with University News, Wallace described hopes of inspiring others through his success.

“I hope that people who are in the same situation as I am, see my story and begin to believe that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it,” Wallace said. “Anything and everything is possible, it’s just a matter of how bad you want it and how far you are willing to go to prove to people that you are worthy of whatever career you want to pursue.”

Alaska state troopers also sent officers to the community to assist in the standoff, but spokeswoman Megan Peters said no other information was being released.

The deaths of the two officers now leaves the town of 800 with just one officer.

Wesley is hoping for more answers in the coming “hours and days.”

“He is going to be missed. We’re all just really surprised,” he said.

This story contains information from The Associated Press. Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or kcano@coxohio.com.

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