Ohio officers pay respects to Dallas brothers in blue

(ROCKWALL, TX—July 13, 2016) When they heard about the five fallen police officers in the Dallas shooting on July 7, officers David Jatich and Kyle Slone made “a quick, easy decision” that distance would not prevent them from paying their respects. The Canton, Ohio Police Department officers drove 18 hours this week and arrived in time to attend funeral services for their brothers in blue yesterday.

“Obviously we don’t know the people, but it’s just a calling we have to come down and show our support,” Jatich said. “ We’re two guys representing 161 officers in our department.”

Slone said more than anything, he wanted the officers’ families to know they were loved and supported.

“It was just important for me for the family to know we care,” Slone said. “Even though I didn’t know these guys, we served the same purpose, and they laid their lives down for somebody else. Driving 18 hours to show my appreciation was no big deal to me.”

On Monday, July 11, Jatich and Slone visited the Dallas Police Department and discovered they were among visitors from all over the country who have journeyed to Dallas as a testament to their community. Yesterday the officers were in the funeral procession for DPD Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens and attended two funerals for fallen officers.

Rockwall resident Frank Niezgoda decided to open up his home to Jatich and Slone the minute he heard from Ohio relatives about their initial plans to visit Dallas in a recreational vehicle. Niezgoda said it was a no brainer: he was happy to do his part to support the police community in the midst of tragedy.

“This is just a small thing to me and a way to serve,” Niezgoda said. “These guys are under stress every day. We don’t know stress like these guys know stress. I admire them so much.”

Niezgoda made sure the officers were shown top-notch hospitality and a taste of Texas on their visit. He took them to try Whataburger for the first time, stocked his house with Bluebell ice cream, and invited some Rockwall police officers to join them for a cookout and pool party. Niezgoda said “everybody is looking for some way to help.” He has seen community members jump at the chance to thank and honor the officers everywhere they go, giving out countless hugs and offering to pay for their meals at restaurants.

“These past couple of days, I’ve been hugged probably more than I’ve been hugged in my entire life,” Jatich said. “It’s amazing to see that outpour, it’s not something we’re used to.”

As they look to the future of dialogue between American citizens and the police force, Jatich and Slone said the most important elements in the conversation are communication and education.

“I think on both sides we don’t communicate effectively,” Slone said. “I think citizens need to be educated on what police can and can’t do, but they also need to understand that the streetside probably isn’t the appropriate place to argue that.”

Jatich said above all, he wants the public to understand that the police are always dedicated to their protection.

“I think what the Dallas officers did says it all,” Jatich said. “You have a group of people using their constitutional right to protest against the police department. These officers jumped on top of the very people who were protesting against them in order to protect them. I think that says it all: we are here to do our job no matter what. Every day.”

Story and main photo by Julie Anne White, Blue Ribbon News reporter. Other photos courtesy Frank Niezgoda.

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