The GCPOMS hosted “Police Week” in honor of the officers of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Lorain, Medina and Northern Summit Counties who have perished in the line of duty and remember all the law enforcement officers in this nation who have sacrificed their life while serving as law enforcement officers.   
The names of Twinsburg Police Officer  Joshua  T. Miktarian and Boston Heights Police Officer Jarod M. Dean were added to the monument wall  this year.
Officer Miktarian was shot and killed during a traffic stop on July 13, 2008 and was the first officer in the history of Twinsburg to be killed in the line of duty and the and the first to be killed in the last fifteen years in Summit County.

Officer Jarod Dean was struck and killed by a truck while removing debris from Route 8 in the Village of Boston Heights on January 19th 2009.
On Thursday, May 14, the GCPOMS hosted a welcoming reception for attendees from Ottawa Canada, Chicago, New York, Boston and many other locations in the U.S.  The reception was held at the Corner Alley a bar/bowling alley in downtown Cleveland and was well attended by local and outside police agencies.
Friday morning police vehicles and motorcycles and officers from across northern Ohio lined the streets to march in the parade worn Lakeside to the Police Memorial. Pipe and Drum bands from Ottawa, Boston, and Chicago, Cuyahoga County SO, New York and Greater Cleveland and a special appearance of the Quantico Marine Corps Band participated.   The Winged Wheels, the Metro Toronto Police Service Precision Motorcycle Unit participated and following the service performed their precise linear movements, high speed crossovers and intertwining circles on their 850 pound Harley’s.

The solemn ceremony was conducted by Master of Ceremonies David Wittman, Channel 19 Action News anchor.  Presentation of the Colors was conducted by the Halifax Region Police Color Guard for Canada and the Independence Police honor Guard for the United States.
Charles Lane President of the GCPOMS and the Honorable Mayor Frank Jackson, City of Cleveland gave opening remarks. Guest speaker was Chief David Wright of the Bay Village Police Department.

Joshua Miktarian and Jarod Dean were recognized for their lives and police service prior to the wreath presentation and the playing of Amazing Grace by Pipers from the attending pipe and drum units.

The Flag presentation was conducted by the Hudson Police Honor Guard and the Mayfield Heights Police Honor Guard, as attendees gave a moment of silence and the Shaker Heights Police Honor Guard fired a Rifle Salute and Taps was played by the Quantico Marine Corps Band.  Following the ceremony FOP Lodge #8 hosted a luncheon at their offices.

The weekend events gave attendees the opportunity to meet other members of the law enforcement community and   to re-acquaint friendships from past years. Events scheduled included the inaugural Ohio COPS Motorcycle Run. The ride was hosted by the Ohio Concerns of Police Survivors in order to raise public awareness of the hazards of the law enforcement profession and the sacrifice make by our officers who die in the line of duty, and their loved ones who survive them.

The Tattoo was held at the Historic Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square.  Master of Ceremony was Lil John Rinaldi and radio personality Mark “Munch” Bishop.  The program featured performances by; The Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band, The Chicago Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the Pipes and Drums of New York City Police Emerald Society and the Pipes and Drums of the Cleveland Police.  The Boston Police Pipes and Drums Gaelic Column made their first appearance in Cleveland and vowed to return next year.  Of course, the Quantico Marine Corps Band was again the hit of the show performing in concert of tunes and then featuring their own jazz band.
During the evening Mayfield Village Detective Sergeant Donald Smith was named Officer of the Year and David Wittman, Anchor 19 Action News was named Citizen of the Year and Reverend John Cregan, CPD Police Chaplin was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and was named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society.

Following the program the bands filed out of the theatre and onto Euclid Ave where they played and paraded back to the Double Tree Hotel on Lakeside for the after party which was filled.  As usual the weekend was a great success thanks to the efforts of the Greater Peace Officers Memorial Society.

Next year will be the 25th Anniversary of the Police Memorial Commemoration and will be May 20-23, 2010, so that it does not interfere with the events during National Police Week in Washington D.C.  I strongly recommend that anyone who has never participated in this weekend make plans for next year’s event for what everyone says is “Cleveland’s best kept secret”.