PORT CLINTON, Ohio (WTVG) – A new addition to FriendShip Park is a decade in the making.
It’s a memorial that now stands near the waterfront in Port Clinton, honoring officers from all across Ottawa County. All of those officers made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in the line of duty.
“We are just so grateful to finally see a memorial honoring our fallen,” said Roseann Hickman, President of FOPA Lodge #34. “It’s been 100 years since the first officer was shot in the line of duty. This is long overdue.”
Hickman helped form the organization to support local law enforcement 10 years ago. She’s been working on the memorial ever since.
“Lots of fundraisers with only about 10 members running them. It cost us $16,000,” said Hickman, who spoke with 13 Action News through an app.
In 2022, Hickman was diagnosed with ALS and is non-verbal. She was still determined to make the memorial happen.
“This has been our goal since we formed our chapter. We worked so hard to get here,” Hickman added.
“After all of our fundraising efforts, and after 10 years of working so hard with so few hands to do it, I know we really wanted to honor and support our law enforcement, and I think that’s one way to show them that they’re in our thoughts and in our hearts all the time,” said Mary Ann Nehls, a member of the FOPA Lodge #34.
A dedication is set for Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
The names listed, according to a news release, are as follows:
“Sgt. Robert B. Rigoni served with the Port Clinton Police Department and was killed in the line of duty on Friday, December 9, 1983. Sergeant Robert Rigoni, along with Deputy Sheriff Bruce Mettler of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Dispatcher Michael Sweeney of the Put-in-Bay Police Department and EMT Duane Dress were killed when the plane they were riding in crashed into Lake Erie. The officers were travelling to assist a police chief on a neighboring island who was suffering a heart attack. All four occupants of the plane were killed in the accident. Sergeant Rigoni had served with the Port Clinton Police Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife Nancy and two sons. Sgt. Rigoni had also served in the US Navy.
Deputy Bruce E. Mettler, 36 years old, was a member of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. He had also served in the US Army and with the Summit County Sheriff’s office prior to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. He was survived by his wife, Valerie and 2 children.
Dispatcher Michael J. Sweeney, 20 years old, was a dispatcher with the Put In Bay Police Department. He was also a member of the fire department and an emt on the island. Michael Sweeney was survived by his parents and 3 siblings.
Officer William J. Hetrick, 30 years old, of the Clay Center police Department. Officer Hetrick was killed when his cruiser was struck by a tractor trailer while he was on patrol on July 10, 2000. Officer Hetrick was assisting another agency and was driving the other agency’s patrol car when the incident occurred. He had just finished investigating an accident and was driving on State Route 51 in heavy fog, when a tractor trailer pulled out from a side street, colliding with his patrol car. Officer Hetrick died at the scene. Officer Hetrick had been with the Clay Township Police Department for 5 years, and is survived by his wife, Tonya, three children, parents, and sister.
Marshal Frank J. Robel, 30 years old, was killed in the line of duty on November 27, 1925 while working for the village of Marblehead. Marshal Robel was confronted by a frequent criminal offender on perry Street in downtown Marblehead on Thanksgiving Day. Marshal Robel was returning his patrol car to the station and was off duty. He was also unarmed at the time. After a brief altercation, Mr. Lester Wenner shot the Marshal once and fled the scene. Marshal Robel was able to get help, however it was too late and he succumbed to his injuries. Mr. Wenner was arrested shortly afterwards and placed into custody. A jury of his peers found him guilty of murder in the first degree. The jury saved him from the electric chair by the recommendation of mercy. The judge imposed a sentence of life in prison to which he added that one day each year he should be placed in solitary confinement and that day to be Thanksgiving Day, the anniversary of the day in which the crime was committed. Marshal Robel was survived by his wife Anna, father and siblings.”
Latest Local News | First Alert Weather | Crime | National | 13abc Originals
Copyright 2025 WTVG. All rights reserved.
This article was published by WTVG on 2025-10-07 23:37:00
View Original Post
