Cleveland, OH
Family releases statement ahead of funeral for fallen Cleveland officer Jamieson Ritter
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Fallen Officer Jamieson Ritter will be honored and laid to rest at his funeral in Webster, New York Saturday morning.
According to his obituary, Officer Ritter’s wake went from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening at Falvo Funeral Home.
His funeral Saturday will be at Browncroft Community Church at 10 a.m.
19 News will stream the funeral online beginning at 10 a.m.
The family of Officer Ritter released the following statement ahead of the funeral:
Several Cleveland officers will travel to Webster for the funeral.
On Monday, hundreds of people attended the memorial service to honor Officer Ritter.
Officer Ritter, 27, was fatally shot in the line of duty while serving a felonious assault arrest warrant in the 1500 block of E. 80th St. around 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 4.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fallen Cleveland officer Jamieson Ritter’s Ohio Army National Guard unit remembers his ‘selfless service’
The procession to the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist on Superior Avenue downtown began just after 9 a.m. Monday from Chambers Funeral Home in the 4200 block of Rocky River Dr.
Before arriving at the cathedral, the procession drove past the Cleveland Police Third District, where Officer Ritter was assigned.
Several people spoke during the memorial service; including, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd, Sergeant 1st Class David Lucero of the Ohio Army National Guard and Officer Ritter’s partner, Cleveland Police Officer Brittany Vajusi.
“He was not just an officer,” Chief Todd said. “He was a guardian of our community, a beacon of hope, and a symbol of strength.”
Officer Vajusi said her partner truly impacted the neighborhoods they served.
“Whether it was stopping to buy kids birthday cakes when we saw them celebrating in their backyards, stopping to let little boys and girls get in the front seat of our zone car and look around,” Officer Vajusi said.
Officer Ritter will live on forever in their hearts as a hero.
“For all that he gave to everyone that he knew and didn’t know, the least we can ever do to give back to him is to remember and to share his legacy forever,” Officer Vajusi said.
Cleveland 19 News is accepting condolences for the Ritter family.
Delawnte Hardy, 24, is charged with aggravated murder for the death of Officer Ritter. He is being held on a $5 million bond at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cleveland police officer fatally shot in the city’s Hough neighborhood, suspect charged
Hardy was taken into custody immediately after the shooting on July 4.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Bond set at $5M for suspect in fatal shooting of Cleveland police officer
Garfield Heights Police Chief Mark Kaye said Hardy is also a suspect in the shooting of his grandma, Beatrice Porter, 63, on June 29.
Porter died from her injuries on July 4.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Hanford Dixon’s legacy continues to grow.
On Monday, June 29, it was announced by the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame that Cleveland Browns legend Hanford Dixon will be part of the 2026 induction class. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hall of Fame.
Dixon will be formally inducted in September, with the full class and ceremony details expected to be released in the coming weeks.
🏈 The first of a MEMORABLE class!
Welcome to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, Hanford Dixon! pic.twitter.com/fNsydaXHxV
— Greater Cleveland Sports HOF (@GCLESPORTSHOF) June 29, 2026
Before the news was made public, the 67-year-old was surprised by Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame President Bob DiBiasio and Vice President John Telich, who informed him of the announcement just before he was set to record a show on the BIGPLAY Sports Network.
“I am a man of many words. I can always find something to say,” Dixon began. “But I just want to tell you guys, thank you. This means a lot to me from the bottom of my heart because you guys know, old country boy coming from a little small town outside of Mobile in Alabama.
“I decided to stay here in Cleveland and make Cleveland my home, so I tell you how much Cleveland means to me.”
DiBiasio went on to share that making Cleveland your home is one of the many criteria that allows individuals to be inducted into The Hall.
“You mentioned that you made Cleveland your home,” he said. “That’s one of the criteria to be in the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. It’s a nine-county region, and you either had to be born or raised in Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland area, or made Cleveland your home after your career, which you did, and you are a perfect example of that.
“You made Cleveland your home, and you are so deserving.”
After being selected by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi, he would go on to play nine seasons. Dixon was a lockdown defender for the Browns, snagging 26 interceptions across 131 games played.
Selected to three Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro twice, Dixon was one of the bright spots for an era of Cleveland football that saw the team reach the playoffs six times. He would team up with Frank Minnifield, helping form one of football’s best duos in the history of the sport. He is also credited with helping to create and name the iconic “Dawg Pound” identity.
He retired after the 1989 campaign, going on to stay active in the community and media space.
He has worked with WOIO-TV 19 and Fox Sports Ohio, covering high school football, and also the BIGPLAY Sports Network, where he currently hosts a show called BIGPLAY Cleveland Live, covering Cleveland’s professional sports organizations.
“Such a fun thing for us to be able to sneak in here before your show, and share the wonderful news,” DiBiasio concluded. “We can’t be more happy for you to join. We are in our 50th year… it is one of Cleveland’s best kept secrets.”
Breaking: #Browns legend Hanford Dixon will be inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2026 class.#DawgPound
— Cade Cracas (@CracasCade) June 29, 2026
Earlier this year, Dixon was also presented with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards back on Feb. 5. Such an honor highlighted the play he had put on the field back in the 80’s, and the work he had done in the community following his playing career.
Now, just a few months removed, Dixon will receive yet another prestigious honor from the city he has dedicated his life to.
“I came here, and I just love the city, love the people, now you can’t get rid of me,” Dixon said when receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award earlier. “I’m still here…”
Follow
Cleveland, OH
E. 9th Street exit to close Monday, affecting downtown Cleveland commuters through late October
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is preparing to close a ramp into downtown Cleveland that will be a major disruption for the rest of the summer.
19 News spoke with Jacob McCullough, who lives downtown. He said he will now have to give himself much more time for travel.
“Anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes,” McCullough said.
Nathaniel Birach drives into downtown every week from Vermilion and uses the E 9th Street exit.
“On busy weekends it already takes 20 minutes to get through the city,” Birach said. “Having to go 2 exits over potentially is going to be another 20 minutes are so on both ends”
On June 29, the eastbound exit to E. 9th St. will close and is not scheduled to reopen until late October.
According to a spokesperson, ODOT was informed by the contractor earlier this month of the closure, and the work is for the new ramp and a new bridge support pier.
All of this work is a part of the Cleveland Innerbelt Modernization Plan.
ODOT is suggesting a detour of exiting on Ontario, then a right on Carnegie to E. 9th St.
This closure will have major impacts on morning commuters trying to get into downtown, as well as ballgame traffic for the Guardians, and any events at Rocket Fieldhouse.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland EMS responded to a fatal crash early Sunday morning.
According to EMS, the accident was at I-71 N and W 130th Street.
When crews arrived, they pronounced a 28-year-old man dead at the scene.
A 35-year-old man was taken to Fairview Hospital in stable condition, EMS said.
Two other men, ages 18 and 21, were also at the scene but declined medical transport.
19 News has made call outs to Cleveland Police on more information on the accident.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
-
San Francisco, CA6 minutes agoSan Francisco rolls out heightened security measures ahead of World Cup knockout match, 4th of July
-
Dallas, TX13 minutes agoKlyde Warren Park reveals expansion plans, construction timeline
-
Miami, FL16 minutes agoPerson hospitalized after fire breaks out at North Miami Beach apartment building
-
Boston, MA21 minutes agoScottish soccer fan who died in Boston was ‘Tartan Army to his core,’ fundraising page says – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO28 minutes agoNuggets decline Jalen Pickett’s team option for 2026-27 season, sources say
-
San Diego, CA31 minutes agoFormer City Manager, Jack McGrory: Straight Talk About San Diego, Part 2
-
Seattle, WA31 minutes agoArmed suspects linked to 3 Seattle robberies within 30 minutes – MyNorthwest.com
-
Milwaukee, WI43 minutes agoBrewers, Salvation Army pack hundreds of lunches for Milwaukee children through Feed the Kids program
