Message from the Executive Director

Unfortunately, 2016 started off tragically for the Ohio Law Enforcement Community.  Officer Thomas W. Cottrell Jr. of the Danville Police Department was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 17^th.  Officer Cottrell was only 34 years old at the time of his death.  The news nationally on police deaths in the line of duty is also not good.  Sixteen officers have already been killed in 2016.  The Officers that have been killed range from 2 days on the job to 30 years on the job.  These fallen Officers are from federal, state, local and correctional agencies.

Another factor in the death of many of the officers is gun violence.  Gunfire deaths of officers are up 500% from last year.

Please keep all these Officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

I am glad to announce that the OPBA will be conducting member seminars.  These seminars are scheduled for the Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo areas.  Please plan to attend a seminar in your area to find out how the OPBA works for you.

The OPBA annual family baseball outings continue this year.  May 27^th will begin the outings with the Toledo Mudhens game.  June 3^rd will be the second outing with the Cleveland Indians taking on the Kansas City Royals.  The OPBA’s third outing will be July 15^th with the Cincinnati Reds playing the Milwaukee Brewers.  Please plan to attend and follow the directions on the flyer in this magazine.

The OPBA Golf Outing is planned for July 11^th at Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson.  The outing is a 4 man scramble and includes lunch and dinner.  Please register as soon as possible.  All proceeds from this outing fund the OPBA Charitable Foundation.

Please plan to “Honor Our Fallen” during National Correctional Officers Week May 1^st – May 7^th.  National Police Week is May 15^th – May 21^st.

It is the time of year to remind our membership that the OPBA policy is NOT to release any information to any company or vendor.  If a company has information that they wish to send to our membership, the company must use the OPBA mail house.  The company must incur all the costs of such mailings.

American Income Life (AIL) continues to provide a free $4,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment policy to OPBA members in good standing.  Members do not need to do anything to receive this benefit.  If you choose to complete any information from AIL, they will contact you to list your beneficiary and also to present other insurance and or investment products.

OPBA Chief of Staff Dan Leffler, myself and several members attended a fundraiser for Corrections Officer Warren Bradley of Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.  Approximately $3,400 was raised for Officer Bradley.  Get well soon!

Stay Safe!