Local FOP celebrates fight and courage of officers
Right, Leetonia police Sgt. William Webb, left, and officer John Hancock attend the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Hancock was honored for his bravery in October when he was attacked by a male subject brandishing a piece of rebar who beat him with it, causing severe injuries. (Photos by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Right, Leetonia police Sgt. William Webb, left, and officer John Hancock attend the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Hancock was honored for his bravery in October when he was attacked by a male subject brandishing a piece of rebar who beat him with it, causing severe injuries. (Photos by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Salem Police Chief J.T. Panezott was one of many of the area law enforcement officials in attendance for Thursday afternoon’s Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Many police officers choose to drape their badges, like Panezott did here, for the event. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Bryan Klutzaritz, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Resident Agent in Charge of the Youngstown office, provided the keynote remarks during Thursday afternoon’s Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. He talked about the increasing risk to police officers and their families due to today’s environment. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Honorees St. Clair Township police officer Dakota Wetzel appears in the foreground and Leetonia police officer John Hancock in the background Thursday afternoon during the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at the Salem Golf Club. Wetzel survived being shot in the head in January, and Hancock was attacked by an assailant brandishing a large piece of rebar that attempted to grab his duty weapon in October. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Regan Lambert sits next to her fiance, St. Clair Township police officer Dakota Wetzel, Thursday afternoon during the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at the Salem Golf Club. Wetzel and Leetonia police officer John Hancock, who both survived on-duty life threatening injuries, were honored guests for the event. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Bagpiper Kim Meek performed “Taps” as Capt. Deputy Sheriff Ryan Pike read off the 165 officers who “gave the ultimate sacrifice” during the Thursday afternoon Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon in Salem. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Right, Leetonia police Sgt. William Webb, left, and officer John Hancock attend the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Hancock was honored for his bravery in October when he was attacked by a male subject brandishing a piece of rebar who beat him with it, causing severe injuries. (Photos by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Right, Leetonia police Sgt. William Webb, left, and officer John Hancock attend the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Hancock was honored for his bravery in October when he was attacked by a male subject brandishing a piece of rebar who beat him with it, causing severe injuries. (Photos by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Salem Police Chief J.T. Panezott was one of many of the area law enforcement officials in attendance for Thursday afternoon’s Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. Many police officers choose to drape their badges, like Panezott did here, for the event. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Bryan Klutzaritz, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Resident Agent in Charge of the Youngstown office, provided the keynote remarks during Thursday afternoon’s Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at Salem Golf Club. He talked about the increasing risk to police officers and their families due to today’s environment. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Honorees St. Clair Township police officer Dakota Wetzel appears in the foreground and Leetonia police officer John Hancock in the background Thursday afternoon during the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at the Salem Golf Club. Wetzel survived being shot in the head in January, and Hancock was attacked by an assailant brandishing a large piece of rebar that attempted to grab his duty weapon in October. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Regan Lambert sits next to her fiance, St. Clair Township police officer Dakota Wetzel, Thursday afternoon during the Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon at the Salem Golf Club. Wetzel and Leetonia police officer John Hancock, who both survived on-duty life threatening injuries, were honored guests for the event. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
Bagpiper Kim Meek performed “Taps” as Capt. Deputy Sheriff Ryan Pike read off the 165 officers who “gave the ultimate sacrifice” during the Thursday afternoon Fraternal Order of Police Quaker Lodge #88 National Peace Officer Memorial Luncheon in Salem. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)
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SALEM -- A local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge wrapped up the month of May by celebrating the fight and courage in two area patrol officers who decided to survive.
The FOP Quaker Lodge 88 held its annual luncheon Thursday afternoon at the Salem Golf Club, honoring John Hancock and Dakota Wetzel as well as the others nationwide that weren't as lucky.
Keynote speaker for the event was Bryan Klutzaritz, who is assigned as resident agent in charge to the Youngstown office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He has more than 27 years of federal law enforcement experience and had five and a half years working for the U.S. border patrol in California before he joined the D.E.A.
After being introduced by Kenny Biacco, a retired Columbiana County Sheriff's deputy and current Yellow Creek Township trustee serving as Quaker Lodge 88's treasurer, Klutzaritz explained that the job continues to get tougher in the current environment.
He went on to thank both men, who were in attendance, to continue fighting for their community despite life threatening encounters on duty months before.
In addition to Hancock and Wetzel, honored guests included David and Patricia Leo, parents of Girard patrolman Justin Leo, who had passed on Oct. 21, 2017; and Lisa Shafer, who attended along with the daughter she shared with the late Salem police Lt. Charles Shafer. In January 2018, Shafer had fallen ill at home after leaving work and passed later at Salem Regional Medical Center.
The mother of Youngstown patrolman Michael Hartzell was unable to attend the luncheon.
The program also recognized Shane Detwiler, a Salem native who was killed in the line of duty on July 31, 2009, while a Chambers County (Texas) Sheriff's deputy.
In addition to the special awards given to Leetonia's Hancock and St. Clair Township's Wetzel, the gathering also recognized Dick Wilk for his support of the Quaker Lodge over the years, giving his award to his granddaughter Rae Wilk-Oxley in his absence.
Dignitaries in attendance for the event included Columbiana County commissioners Mike Halleck, Tim Ginter and Roy Paparodis; sheriff Brian McLaughlin; recorder Anthony Dattilio; Common Pleas Court judge Scott Washam, prosecutor Vito Abruzzino; appeals judge Carol Robb; and Rachel Delaney, regional director for the Ohio Attorney General.
Kim Meek played "Taps" on the bagpipes as Columbiana County Deputy Sheriff (Capt.) Ryan Pike, who also is the FOP 88 secretary, read the list of 165 names for the final roll call nationwide of the officers who passed in the last year.
Donn Beeson, who is a retired Salem police lieutenant and current FOP 88 president, provided closing remarks, while Father Chad Johnson of St. Jude Catholic Church in Columbiana gave the invocation and final closing prayer.
Retired county sheriff's deputy Willie Coleman and retired Columbiana city police officer Wayne Wickline served as door greeters for the event.
sujhelyi@mojonews.com