CLEVELAND — Members of the Lorain Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police and Mayor Jack Bradley honored Lorain Police Officer Phillip Wagner at Rocket Arena on Wednesday morning at a memorial service where Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Attorney General Dave Yost were also in attendance.
Watch Wagner's memorial service at Rocket Arena:
Wagner was awarded the department's Purple Heart and Medal of Honor, which Lorain Police Chief Michael Failing presented to his family in the front row.
Failing shared fond memories of Wagner, saying during his interview, he was eager to be able to try out for the SWAT Team, a position he was granted on July 22, just one day before he was fatally shot.
“He had a passion for Special Weapons and Tactics, otherwise known as SWAT,” Failing said. “During his hiring interview, his only follow-up question was how long he would have to wait to try out for the team to become an official member. Candidates must complete a year of SWAT training, which includes various schools, proficiency tests and live operations.”
Mayor Bradley introduced a proclamation to declare July 24 as Officer Phillip Wagner Day to honor the fallen officer.
“I, Jack W. Bradley, Mayor of the City of Lorain, do hereby proclaim July 24 as Officer Phillip Wagner Day in the City of Lorain to honor Officer Phillip Wagner,” Bradley said. “I encourage all citizens to recognize his service, his sacrifice, and honor the legacy he leaves behind.”
Pastor Josh Smith said that Wagner did not like being called a hero after he returned from his deployments. Wagner served in the United States Marine Corps before beginning his journey as a police officer.
“When he returned from his deployments, he was called a hero over and over again, and it never sat well with him because his definition of a hero is someone who laid their life down for others,” Smith said. “ So today, we come together to honor the hero, Phil Wagner.”
Smith also said that Wagner was a family man who had a wife and three children he adored.
“He was on vacation, and there was a day that things were just kind of swirling around Jessica and he was deep cleaning their van," from some spilled ice cream, Smith said. “... Jessica, at one point, she goes, ‘You always take care of me, even on vacation.’ And without hesitation, Phil said, ‘I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.’”
Both Failing and Lorain Police Detective Matt Hartman said that Wagner had a love for guns. Hartman shared a story about a time he and Wagner were working together when they received a call about a citizen wanting to turn over a few guns to the department.
“Phil was surprised, and he just shook his head and said, ‘Who would ever want to do that?’” Hartman said. “One of the weapons being turned in ended up being from World War II. It was just a small part of the original gun, but I remember Phil lighting up the moment he saw it. He was so excited. Before we even made it back to the station, he texted me everything about that gun, where it was made, how many were produced, and even that the factory was destroyed.”
Each person who spoke during Wednesday’s funeral said final goodbyes to Wagner, remembering him as a cherished friend who was dedicated and loving.
“To Phil, P. Wags, I’m sorry,” Hartman said. “You will always be with us. Watch over your brothers and sisters in blue. Keep us safe as you always did. Officer Phillip Wagner, badge 4178, we’ll take it from here.”
Lorain officer Brent Payne, who was in a wheelchair, and officer Peter Gale, both of whom were injured in the ambush that killed Wagner, stopped at the casket during the memorial service.
Law enforcement agencies, both across the state of Ohio and throughout the country, were represented at the memorial service, including Lt. Rob Mercurio with the Buffalo Police Department.
“If our presence and attendance here can show just a little bit of support, and they are able to lean on shoulder to shoulder, then it's worthwhile,” Mercurio said before the service.
Sgt. Brandon Lawrence with the Timberlake Police Department in Lake County was also in attendance, saying that the matter in which Wagner died is what brought him to the funeral.
“The way he passed and the way he was taken out of the line of duty is what brought me here to support him," Lawrence said. "We're going to recover from the things that have happened, and we're going to move together as a society."
After the memorial service, a procession left Rocket Arena for Bellevue in Sandusky County and a private burial.
An earlier procession started around 7:30 a.m. at Liston Funeral Home and went into Downtown Cleveland.
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley spoke to News 5 Anchor Rob Powers about the fallen police officer and the support that the community has shown.
"Oftentimes, people think that a community is divided, but a tragedy like this brings a community together," said Bradley.
Watch our coverage of the procession in the player below:
What happened?
Last week, Wagner and another officer, Peter Gale, were eating lunch together at the dead end of River Bend Drive when they were ambushed around 1:05 p.m. by a man who had also parked in the area.
RELATED: Lorain police officers ambushed by gunman with 'arsenal of weapons'
The officers called for backup, and another officer, Brent Payne, arrived, but he was also shot while inside his vehicle.
The suspect was killed in the gunfire.
Since the shooting, Northeast Ohioans have rallied to support the officers through events and by lighting up their homes with blue lights.
RELATED: Northeast Ohio lights up blue in support of 3 Lorain officers shot
