Leetonia patrolman John Hancock holds the steel rod that a village man wielded to attack him in October on Pearl Street. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

LEETONIA — Village patrolman John Hancock continues to relive his own nightmare, as he continues to recuperate from an attack a week before Halloween last year.

Though slowly on the mend, the former Lisbon cop is anxious to be back on the job despite his horrifying experience.

While patrolling shortly after midnight Oct. 21 in the 400 block of Pearl Street, Hancock stopped his cruiser to check on a man who had visible cuts and blood on his hands and clothing.

Without a word, the man, also wearing face paint like an Indian warrior, pulled a three-foot steel rod and began to beat Hancock along his head and face before trying to gain control of the officer’s service weapon.

Hancock, who had been struck on his left temple several times with the rod and sustained a broken ankle, still was able to overpower his attacker and handcuff him before backup arrived.

Quoting a letter of commendation awarded by Leetonia Police Chief Allen Haueter to Hancock, “Officer John Hancock’s quick response and recognition of the severity of this call, and his immediate actions ar recognized and appreciated by the Village of Leetonia and the Leetonia Police Department.”

Prior to serving with Leetonia, with whom he re-upped with after retiring as a sergeant in 2021 to take a job in the private sector, Hancock had been employed with Lisbon Police Department for 30 years before initially joining Leetonia in December 2018.

His favorite part of the job? “I just like trying to help people,” he explained.

Even though Hancock is quick to point out he is just a patrolman, those who work with him would disagree that he is not extraordinary.

Chief Haueter described Hancock as “one of my best and Lisbon’s best.”

He had known Hancock when he was a lieutenant with Lisbon police and Haueter was with the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Dept..

Haueter noted that he missed law enforcement and that drive is what makes Hancock a good police officer.

The department was familiar with Hancock’s attacker before that fateful day, Chief Haueter acknowledged.

Earlier that week, a judge had ordered the man to undergo a psychological evaluation in conjunction wih his case stemming from a Columbiana County sheriffs deputy several months ago.

And that night –wearing the face paint –the man had been carrying a Walmart bag filled with knives of various sizes.

Now with two alleged attacks on law enforcement officers and the results of the psychological evaluation, Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Tim McNicol found Hancock’s assailant wasn’t competent to stand trial and ordered the man be admitted to a Massillon mental hospital for a minimum of one year.

The Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge 88 in Salem will be holding a National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service Luncheon at noon Thursday, May 29 in Salem Golf Club and honoring both Hancock and St. Clair Township officer Dakota Wetzel, who was wounded seriously on the job in January.

Limited tickets are still available for $15 each.

Thomas Gerry from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cleveland office will be the guest speaker.

To purchase tickets, call Ryan Pike at the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office at 330-424-9519 or 330-424-7255.