In 2016, six Ohio officers died in the line of duty. Their life and service were honored on Sunday morning.
Around 500 motorcyclists flocked to the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial to honor the fallen officers of 2016.
Among those speaking was the widow of Euclid Police Officer George Brentar who died in a car accident on I-90 while pursuing a driver in 2007.
9th annual Cops Ride has begun. They will rise to Harley Davidson in Medina. pic.twitter.com/4DKD6WztPr
— Meg Shaw (@MegDShaw) June 25, 2017
The ceremony honored the 135 fallen law enforcement officers from 2016. It marks the highest number of deaths in five years.
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Officer Thomas Wayne Cottrell, Jr. – Danville Police Department- EOW January 17, 2016
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Officer Steven Michael Smith- Columbus Division of Police- EOW April 12, 2016
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Officer Sean Richard Johnson- Hilliard Division of Police- EOW May 19, 2016
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Trooper Kenneth V. Velez- Ohio State Highway Patrol- EOW- September 15, 2016
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Patrolman Aaron Jackson Christian- Chesapeake Police Department- EOW October 18, 2016
- Officer David J. Fahey Jr.- Cleveland Police Department EOW January 24, 2017
Linda Brentar stood in front of hundreds of people reflecting on the day she lost her husband.
"That evening my husband of twenty years was attempting to catch a speeding vehicle on I-90 when his car hydroplaned and struck a pole. Within a minute his cruiser burst into flames trapping him inside," she said.
Organizer of the Cops Ride, Lieutenant Mark Krumheuer, said hearing about the death of an officer hits close to home every time.
"You sit there and think, 'Wow that could've been me, or a good friend, or a coworker.' Anything along the lines and it just makes you think. Kind of brings it back into perspective," said Krumheuer.
