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.

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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.

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Hardy was taken into custody immediately after the shooting on July 4.

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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.

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