WQIO Ohio's Super Station
Wednesday Night more than 100 cruisers from multiple law enforcement agencies took part in the annual Memorial Cruiser Caravan. Family members of fallen officers also participated in the caravan that started in Westerville and went through Plain City, West Jefferson, Hilliard and Upper Arlington, before ending in Columbus.
Prior to the memorial caravan, a ceremony was held honoring both Ohio’s fallen and those who are currently serving. The ceremony began with the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Welcoming remarks were provided by Concerns of Police Survivors National President Connie Moyer and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
Light Ohio Blue also recognized four individuals with awards for their work to support law enforcement and their communities. Those who received awards include:
- Joshua Swindell, Ohio State Highway Patrol – Blue Crier Award
- Isaac Bridges, Columbus Division of Police – Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
- Dallas Baldwin, Franklin County Sheriff – Peter Tobin Lifetime Law Enforcement Award
- Al Coughlan Jr. – Citizen of the Year Award
- Sam Mattison, Ohio Attorney General’s Office – Grand Marshal
Tonight’s Memorial Cruiser Caravan kicks off the 2025 Light Ohio Blue campaign, which runs through May 17. It honors law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and their surviving family members. The campaign also shows support for active law enforcement personnel across the state.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Chief Executive Officer Bill Alexander read the roll call of law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty over the last year, including:
- Lieutenant Rodney Osborne
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
End of Watch: April 9, 2024 - Officer Jacob Derbin
Euclid Police Department
End of Watch: May 11, 2024 - Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police
End of Watch: July 4, 2024 - Correction Officer Andrew Lansing
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
End of Watch: December 25, 2024
These men join the names of more than 800 law enforcement officers on the Ohio Peace Officers Memorial in London. They were also added to the more than 24,000 names on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
For further information please contact: Bill Swank (614) 638-7245 or email Staff@LightOhioBlue.org or Bill319cmh@gmail.com
