Thu Sep 02 2010
by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Boston Heights -- The village's police department has received a "great" outpouring of support from the community after a 24-year-old patrolman was killed Jan. 19 while clearing debris from Route 8 in Boston Township.
Jarod M. Dean, 24, a Boston Heights patrolman and Hudson resident, was struck by a truck traveling southbound on Route 8 and killed around 5:30 a.m. Jan. 19.
Boston Heights Police Chief Joseph Varga said Mr. Dean was out of his patrol car and cleaning debris off the highway when he was hit.
"He had his lights on and was behind the cruiser," Varga said.
Another Boston Heights police officer was first on the scene, Varga said. Attempts by Boston Heights and Macedonia emergency squads failed to revive him. The Summit County Medical Examiner pronounced him dead at the scene at 6:22 a.m.
The cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries" and manner of death was ruled an accident, according to the medical examiner's report.
Mr. Dean was a part-time police officer with Boston Heights for six months and previously worked in Windham for two years, Varga said.
"On behalf of the Dean family, we would like to thank the community for its support during this tragedy," said Mr. Dean's stepbrother John Dean in a statement provided by Boston Heights Sgt. Ray Heatwall.
"Jarod loved being a police officer and he paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to his fellow man."
"He touched so many in the short time he was with us, and it's a tragic loss not only to his family and friends, but for the community he served," said the family's statement.
Boston Heights Mayor Bill Goncy said the community is "devastated" by Mr. Dean's death.
"The outpouring from our community has been great," Goncy said. "They're asking what they can do."
Heatwall said the department, which consisted of 15 officers, is "holding up. Being a small department, we're really close."
Windham Police Chief Ed Perdian said Mr. Dean "was a good officer. He needed some experience under his belt."
The flag in front of the Windham Police Department will fly at half staff until further notice, Perdian said.
Goncy said the city is working with the family in planning a memorial service.
Goncy said contributions for the Dean family can be made at any First Merit Bank.
Calling hours will be at Fortuna Funeral Home, 7076 Brecksville Road in Independence, Jan. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m., and Jan. 23 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., according to Heatwall.
Varga said Mr. Dean was single and lived with his parents in Hudson.
Hudson Police Chief David Robbins said Mr. Dean's stepbrother, John Dean, 36, has been a police officer in Hudson for nine years.
"It's a tragic accident," Robbins said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
It reported that at 5:30 a.m., Mr. Dean communicated to dispatch that he was removing debris from state Route 8 near the Ohio Turnpike and parked his patrol car in the left turn lane of state Route 8 southbound.
He activated the overhead lights to the patrol car and exited the car.
A 51-year-old Garfield Heights man was traveling south on state Route 8 in the left lane and failed to see Mr. Dean in the road and struck him, according to the state highway patrol.
The Garfield Heights man was driving a 2003 Isuzu box truck hauling some vending machine material to Akron. No charges have been filed, the state highway patrol reported.
Lt. Paul Celinski, spokesperson for the Macedonia Fire Department, said firefighters found Mr. Dean lying in the road when they arrived on scene at 5:33 a.m.
Firefighters called off a helicopter evacuation they had requested after determining Mr. Dean was dead, Celinski said.
Celinski said Route 8 southbound remained closed until approximately 9:30 a.m. between Hines Hill and Boston Mills roads while investigators examined the scene.
Editor's note: The News Leader editor Eric Marotta contributed to this story.
E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150
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