Local heroes remembered, Wayne County fallen officers honored

Black bands over badges; killed in the line of duty; Amazing Grace echoing around the courtyard of the justice center means just one thing—honoring Wayne County's fallen heroes.

Bagpipes filled the air around the Wayne County Justice Center Sunday, May 23, as the annual Police Memorial Day ceremony was held.

Law enforcement officers from around Wayne County gathered to pay tribute to the five officers whose names are engraved on a memorial outside the center.

While this year no officers' names were added to the memorial wall, the small group of community members, fellow law enforcement officers, city and county government officials quietly bowed their heads as the prayers were read and bagpipers played Amazing Grace, remembering the five officers who were added to the stone wall in previous years.

Wayne County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 94 and Marshallville Police Chief Tom Rocker Sr. presided over the ceremony.

Adding he was pleased with the support from the community and the officers in uniform for taking part in the ceremony, Rocker said, "Today we honor the five names on the wall for the sacrifice they and their families made. May is a sad month with Memorial Day and National Police Officer Month, too."

Guest speaker for the event was Judge-Elect Corey Spitler, who reminded the assembled crowd, "every 53 hours a police officer is killed." Spitler continued to honor officers for the sacrifices they make every day while protecting the communities they serve.

Rocker added, "These men and women will continue to make the streets safer, and we thank all of them for that."

The five men honored on the Wayne County Law Enforcement Memorial are: Wooster Police Ptl. Ralph W. Henderson (1912), Wayne County Sheriff Dep. Clifford H. Mohler (1968), Wooster Police Ptl. Robert C. Goodrich (1969), Wooster Police Sgt. Paul H. Knisley (1969) and Ohio State Patrol Sgt. Harold K. Hanning (1970).

Also taking part in the ceremony was bagpipers Tim and Kate Wiley of Celtic Eagle Pipe Band. The Medina couple was proud to be invited to perform on Sunday.

"This was our first time down here to play," said Tim. "We were glad to be able to contribute."

The couple, who also give bagpipe lessons to a Wooster firefighter, played two other songs in addition to Amazing Grace: Scotland the Brave and Silver Wing.

Other dignitaries taking part in the service were Adam Chellis, Wayne County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 94 vice president and Chaplin John Conlon.

Local law enforcement departments represented at the Sunday afternoon ceremony were Wayne County Sheriff, Wooster Police, Dalton Police, Rittman Police, Marshallville Police, Orrville Police and Ohio State Patrol.
To see more photos from the ceremony, see the Photo Gallery under the Multimedia section of this website.