Police officers’ sacrifice, daily service saluted

Gutmann, who is retiring at year’s end following a career of more than 30 years in law enforcement and 18 years on the bench, said she’s met hundreds of police officers, read thousands of police reports and heard hours of testimony.

From this exposure, she’s learned a great deal over the years about officers’ character, work ethic and commitment and their exposure to traumatic and tragic events, Gutmann said

“Most of us, including me, would never be able to do their job … . In addition to having to be mentally prepared for the ultimate sacrifice, every single day brings unexpected events that, in their own way, is a sacrifice,” she said.

Also speaking was Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, who said the opiate crisis has made work in law enforcement even more dangerous every day.

“Officers willingly accept great personal risk to serve and to protect” even in a time when “officers are being killed simply because they are officers,” DeWine said.

The seven Miami County officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty are remembered as “people whose lives were given to God simply much, much too soon. We pray for them and their families and we will always remember them,” he said.

DeWine also remembered long-time Sheriff Charles Cox, who died in November.

FOP Lodge 58 President Billie Ray said last year 144 officers were killed across the country in the line of duty, including five in Ohio. Thirty-four K-9 units also died.

The duties of those in law enforcement include to “provide safety and security to all, yes, even those who despise our very existence,” Ray said.

Those recognized in the county roll call of fallen officers, and their families, were: Marshall Harvey Hake, Covington police, who died Jan. 12, 1917; Ptlm. George Eickmeyer, Tipp City Police, Sept. 17, 1945; Lt. Noah D. Studebaker, Piqua Police, Oct. 17, 1957; Ptlm. Jan Mulder II, Piqua police, Aug. 11, 1970; Sgt. William R. Morris, Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Nov. 22, 1972; Det. Robert Taylor, Piqua Police, Nov. 3, 1982; and Sgt. Robert Elliott, Sheriff’s Office, Feb. 25, 1987.

The ceremony included retired Deputy Del Braund playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, Taps by Officer Brett Marrs of Piqua Police Department and presentation and retirement of colors by the Miami County FOP Honor Guard.