2021 Law Enforcement Conference

Detective William “Jay” Gast
Toledo Police Department

In nearly 33 years with the Toledo police, Gast worked as a street cop, in vice narcotics and on the persons-crimes and cold case teams, exceling in all roles. He was honored with a distinguished service medal and medal of valor for twice saving people from burning homes; for his help putting numerous murderers and rapists behind bars, he earned letters of appreciation from prosecutors, court officials and civilians. As one judge wrote in crediting Gast’s skill and dedication: “A case can be won or lost before the crime is ever committed.”

Sgt. Detective Matthew Mayer
Richland County Sheriff’s Office

In more than 25 years with the sheriff’s office, Mayer worked in the crime lab and as a dispatcher, corrections officer, patrolman, detective and detective in charge of major crimes. Regardless of the position, colleagues and community members commended his hard work, team-building and respect for all. Letter writers noted that he “simply refused to quit until a case was solved” and that he taught investigators to dig deeper. Mayer also displayed standout compassion and community dedication, as underscored by his work to establish a camp for kids with muscular dystrophy.

Judge Paul Herbert
Franklin County Municipal Court

Judge Herbert started the first human trafficking court in Ohio more than 10 years ago. What began as a fundamental change in the judge’s own viewpoint has led to CATCH Court (Changing Attitudes To Change Habits), a specialty docket and program that have restored lives and changed the way women are viewed by the criminal justice system. Judge Herbert’s pioneering model has been recognized worldwide.

Sgt. Mike Walsh
Summit County Sheriff’s Office

In his 12 years on community relations assignment, Sgt. Walsh has instituted more than 30 neighborhood watch groups; multiple programs to help senior citizens, including Knox Box emergency home entry; and Safety City updates to better teach children how to stay safe. The 20-plus other programs he started, among other missions, discourage teen drinking, help families facing tough times, loan life jackets and help people learn to protect themselves against fraud. Sgt. Walsh is so dedicated to his role, he turned down a promotion so that he could remain in his division.

Detective Joe Weyer
Alliance Police Department

A trainer since 1996, Detective Weyer led the transformation of what was a dirt berm and shed into Alliance police’s world-class training facility, which features a 360-degree live-fire shoot house and various practice ranges. The detective is committed to providing low-cost, high-quality training to better equip law enforcement, especially in the wider Alliance region. He accomplishes that by building and mentoring a community of dedicated trainers.

Cmdr. Deirdre Jones
Cleveland Division of Police

As Cleveland’s first LGBTQ representative for the Public Safety Department, Cmdr. Jones works to strengthen the relationship between police and the gay community. Within the police division, the 31-year veteran (the first woman to supervise the homicide unit) champions improvements in the hiring and promotion process to ensure  the division reflects the city’s strengths and diversity. The commander’s work has been recognized as a significant factor in Cleveland’s perfect score for two years running on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

Chief John Orzech
Sandusky Police Department

When Lt. Orzech was promoted to chief in 2013, community-police relations were strained. From the start, though, the chief made it a priority to build trust. Officers have been encouraged to get out of their cars and humanize the badge. And Chief Orzech has led by example: He volunteers in the community, including delivering food for Meals on Wheels and taking part in events such as Polar Plunge and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. The Marine veteran  is a vocal proponent for ending gender violence and has become godfather to many children through his church.

Spcs. Jeff Smallwood and Heather Saidler and Officer Chad Koeppe
Cincinnati Police Department

Sgt. William Chad Knight and Officers Jeremy Campbell, Vincent Carter, David Denlinger, Ryan Nabel and Brian Rolfes
Dayton Police Department

Kaia LaFay Grant
Springdale Police Department
End of watch: March 21, 2020

Officer Grant served in Springdale for seven-plus years – until the day the department got a call to help Elmwood Place police, who were pursuing a man wanted for breaking into a home and pistol-whipping an occupant. Officer Grant and a colleague were preparing to put down tire-deflation devices on Interstate 275 when the fleeing driver veered off-course and struck Officer Grant, 33. “In eight years, I never once saw her lose her temper,” a colleague said.

Anthony Dia
Toledo Police Department
End of watch: July 4, 2020

When Officer Dia responded to a call to check on an intoxicated man in a Home Depot parking lot, the man refused the officer’s efforts to help him and walked away, pulling a handgun and firing over his shoulder as he left. The 26-year-old Dia, a married father of two young sons, had worked for the Toledo Police Department for just shy of two years. “Anthony was the example of a fine officer,” said his supervisor, Lt. Joe Trudeau.

James Michael Skernivitz
Cleveland Division of Police
End of watch: Sept. 3, 2020

The day after Detective Skernivitz joined an FBI anti-crime task force, he was meeting with an informant when three teenage males approached and shot both him and the informant. Neither survived. Detective Skernivitz, 53, left behind a wife and three children, the youngest 19. ““On his application, for reasons for becoming a police officer, he wrote: ‘I want to protect the city I grew up in and make it safe,’” Chief Calvin Williams said.

Cpl. Adam McMillan
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
End of watch: Oct. 23, 2020

On Oct. 8, 2020, Cpl. McMillan was on patrol when he was involved in a chain-reaction collision in which his cruiser crashed into a bus. The 42-year-old officer, who suffered a serious head injury, spent two weeks unconscious and in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries. “The field of law enforcement was a natural outlet for his desire to help people,” said the Rev. Steve Angi, a Cincinnati police chaplain.

Dale J. Woods
Colerain Township Police Department
End of watch: Jan. 7, 2019

Officer Woods was fatally struck by a pickup truck as he was setting out cones at the scene of a car crash. The 46-year-old was a father of three who had served 16 years with Colerain police. He had also served as a firefighter, fire investigator and police officer in North College Hill and Lincoln Heights. Colerain Township Police Chaplain James Love said, “He only got jobs in which he was serving other people.”

William L. Brewer Jr.
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office
End of watch: Feb. 2, 2019

Detective Brewer was killed when a man faked shooting himself to lure deputies inside his home, then fired at them through a wall. The 42-year-old detective, who was married and had an 8-year-old son, had served with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office for 21 years, including three years on the SWAT team. Sheriff Steve Leahy said, “This would be the guy I would want to show up if my family members were in need.”

Jorge R. Del Rio
Dayton Police Department
End of watch: Nov. 7, 2019

Detective Del Rio was fatally shot while leading a DEA task force team in executing a search warrant at the home of suspected drug dealers. The accomplished undercover officer was 55 years old, a married father of five and grandfather of three who had been with the Dayton police for nearly 30 years. Chief Richard Biehl said, “He left a legacy of service and sacrifice to this noble profession that is rare even among the best of us.”

K9 Cane
Logan County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: Nov. 14, 2019

K9 Cane was fatally injured in a training accident just two months after being certified for service. His handler threw a ball as a reward for the 1-year-old German shepherd, who gave chase. The icy ground made it impossible for the K9 to stop, however, and he slammed into a trailer. He died two days later of internal injuries.