Slain Toledo police officers honored

Toledo Police Department honor guard members Mike Talton, left, and Al Cavanaugh present the colors at the ceremony. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Officer Katrina Welch-Bills of the Toledo Police Department's honor guard places a wreath at the Toledo Police Memorial Garden to honor colleagues who have died in the line of duty. Behind her is Chief Mike Navarre. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The public remembrance is a comfort, but Mrs. Dressel said her family was recently forced to confront the pain of the detective's absence from their lives after learning his killer has been transferred to a prison in the city. It was a blow to learn how nearby he is, she said.

"I just feel like it's a slap, in a way," Mrs. Dressel said. "I can't visit my son, but he was moved so he can have more contact with his family. I felt like I was punched in the stomach."

"I have to go to the cemetery to see my son," her husband, Michael Dressel, said.

Robert Jobe was 15 when he was charged and later convicted in the murder of the narcotics detective. Jobe spent his 18th birthday in February at the Madison Correctional Institution about 150 miles south of Toledo, and was transferred to the Toledo prison three weeks ago.

His former institution in London specialized in dealing with offenders under 18, said Jessica Dennis, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

In December, the Ohio Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on behalf of Jobe.

"I thought we were done with everything, then I found out," Mrs. Dressel said.

The late detective was among the 31 Toledo police officers memorialized during the downtown ceremony yesterday as part of the annual observation of National Police Week.

Last year, 126 officers were killed in the line of duty across the country, a 13 percent drop from the 145 killed in 2008.

"It's important that we take the time to honor those officers," Police Chief Mike Navarre said.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Bates praised the work of police in his keynote remarks at the memorial.

"Our citizens expect a certain level of order, a certain level of security, in their lives. What makes our security possible, what makes our freedom possible are the law enforcement officers in our community," the judge said.

During an annual awards ceremony before the memorial, Mayor Mike Bell praised the police force for their service.

"I am more than aware at any time there is absolutely nothing I could pay you that represents what you are prepared to do for the community," Mayor Bell said.

The medal of valor, the department's highest honor, was awarded to five officers involved in two situations last year in which a gunman firing at police was killed during the exchange of gunfire.

Sgt. Keith Miller and Officer Cherie Bryce were honored for their response to the May 24 incident during which a North Toledo man shot three of his Allendale Drive neighbors, whom he imagined had kidnapped and killed his own parents. The officers managed to rescue two children hiding in the home before Sergeant Miller shot and killed Richard Dale Carr II, who was armed with two handguns and fired at officers.

Lt. Mark Collins and Officers Charles LeRoux and Diana Trevino were also awarded medals of valor for their conduct during the Aug. 9 chase and gun battle with a Detroit man accused of murdering his girlfriend.

Devon Tyrone Woods, 21, of Detroit was wanted on a multiple-count warrant for the June 8 shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Candice Campbell, also 21. He failed to stop for officers, and led police on a pursuit that ended when he struck another vehicle on Dorr Street at Westwood Avenue.

He fired shots at Officer Eric Board - who did not fire his weapon and was awarded for meritorious service during the call - before Mr. Woods was shot four times. It was unclear which of the three officers honored had fired the shot that mortally wounded Mr. Woods.

Other awards and their recipients are:

•Command Officer of the Year - Sgt. Michael Gilmore.

•Officer of the Year - Thomas Davis, a patrolman on the afternoon shift.

•Civilian employee of the year - Mary Nungester, for her work in the department of personnel and public affairs.

•Certificate of Appreciation - Eileen Juvinall, Latrilla Sadowski, Mathew Barney, Ashley Przymierski.

•Meritorious Public Service - Joseph Sipple, Kevin Wehrle.

•Letter of Recognition - Officers Phil Carroll, David O'Brien, Timothy Tierney, Douglas Przymierski.

•Meritorious Service - Officers Frank Armstead, Eric Board, Bruce Cramer.

•Professional Service - Sgts. Mack Collins, Mark Evanoff, Ronald Frederick, Timothy Hanus, Anita Madison, Thomas Morelli, Ronald Parton, Kevin Smith, Mark Taylor.

Detectives Mary Jo Jaggers, David Morford.

Officers David Baertschi, Cheri Bryce, Sandra Ceglarek, Michael Comes, Theresa Conley, Bruce Cramer, Jeffrey Dorner, Amy Emerson, Roberto Garcia, Edward Gust, Eric Johnson, Treva Lockett, Duane Poole, Dennis Powers, Gary Rabbitt, Andrew Roth, Melissa Stephens, Robert Summers, Scott Swartz, Patricia Tatum, Joseph Taylor, Diana Trevino, Richard B. Trevino.

Civilian employees Denise Burt, Melissa Masztak, and Julie McConnell of the investigative services bureau, and Lisa Caughhorn, Elizabeth Durham, Stella Franklin, and Patricia Spear of the records bureau.

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Keith Dressel's sister, Jennifer Raburn, left; niece Riley Raburn; nephew Canyon Raburn, and his mother and father, Larraine and Michael Dressel, attend the ceremony for slain police officers. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

It's been three years since Larraine Dressel became an honored guest at the annual police memorial ceremony after her son, Toledo Police Detective Keith Dressel, was killed in the line of duty.