Cleveland, OH
Remembering fallen Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
CLEVELAND — A procession and memorial service was held Monday for 27-year-old Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter, who was killed in the line of duty last week.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers and supporters gathered at the Cathedral of St. John in downtown Cleveland. Ritter is described by his coworkers and peers as a humble and kind man who loved his family, friends and the community.
“If there’s one thing I can ask of everyone here today and everyone watching, from not only Cleveland, New York, but around the world, I ask that you please never forget Jamieson Ritter. In his short 27 years on earth, he touched more lives than I could ever imagine,” said Officer Brittany Vajusi, Ritter’s law enforcement partner.
Vajusi said she often had nightmares of calls that went sideways where she couldn’t save Ritter.
“And although unfortunately and almost sadistically being on July 4, my nightmare came true.,” said Vajusi.
Mourners gather outside the Cathedral of St. John in Cleveland on July 8, 2024 to honor fallen officer Jamieson Ritter, who died in the line of duty on July Fourth. (Spectrum News 1/Kimberly Perez)
According to coworkers of Ritter, he dedicated his life to serving the public.
“His compassion for those in need and his relentless pursuit of justice were evident in every action he took. He was not just an officer, he was a guardian of our community, a beacon of hope and a symbol of strength,” said Chief Dorothy Todd of the Cleveland Police Department.
Ritter, a native of Upstate New York, proudly served in the Army National Guard before working in law enforcement.
“Ritter, thank you for being my friend, and thank you for being the kind of friend I could count on, no matter what. And I hope you knew how truly impactful you were to so many of us. I’m going to miss you. We all are going to miss you,” said Sgt. David Lucero of the Ohio Army National Guard.
Though his life was cut tragically short, Ritter’s friends, family and coworkers said they will never let him be forgotten.
“He was my best friend, my brother, and the absolute epitome of a police officer. And for all 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,” said Vajusi.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Division of Fire responded to a 2 1/2 story side-by-side duplex fire Monday afternoon.
According to Cleveland Fire, the call came in just after 5 p.m. at 2154 and 2156 W 98th St.
The fire started in a second floor bedroom that spread to the attic.
Due to the size of the house and the volume of the fire, an extra engine and ladder companies were called to assist.
Cleveland Fire said a total of eight adults and three children were displaced from the fire and the Red Cross was called to assist.
Firearms were inside the structure and firefighters said they could hear ammunition going off as they fought the fire.
The fire also extended to an old tree that caught fire.
Total estimated loss is $120,000, Cleveland Fire said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no injuries were reported.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
The next step towards a true NBA Finals run is perplexing, to say the least, for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though the Cavs reached the Eastern Conference Finals, they finished the 2026 Playoffs with an 8-10 record, which is the worst possible record for any team to have at that stage of the postseason.
Entering the offseason, chatter is centered around Cleveland either cashing in everything for a 2027 run or tearing down the core to enter a rebuild. Ultimately, the Cavs are incapable of the latter with depleted draft capital and few young players left on the roster. Staying the course and taking steps towards a more well-rounded roster is the only option available to the Cleveland basketball club.
The NBA Draft offers the Cavaliers the best opportunity to do so, finding young talent on team-friendly contracts. Currently, however, the Cavs’ draft capital is minimal at best with no control over their first-round picks until 2030 and no second-round draft picks for the foreseeable future.
Last summer, the Cavaliers entered the new second apron of the luxury tax, a new, highly restrictive tier for the highest-paying franchises. Cleveland was the only team to enter the apron last summer and not find a way out. As the league’s most expensive team, the Cavaliers must discover routes to add talent and manipulate their cap space.
Sitting at 29th overall this year, Cleveland needs navigate the draft with more in mind than the best talent on the board after 28 picks. To win the draft this year, the Cavs must make an unorthodox, unexpected move.
The Cavaliers need to trade away their draft pick
Many of the best talent expected to be available in the late first round has opted to return to college, selecting the NIL path over an immediate rise to the pros. Names like Tounde Yessoufou, Amari Allen and Tyler Tanner are out of the draft and unavailable for the Cavaliers.
For a team looking for any opportunity to improve financial flexibility, the Cavaliers should be wary of selecting in the first round at all with so much talent leaving the draft entirely. This year, a first-year player selected at pick 29 will be guaranteed a salary of $3,018,240. With so many prospects avoiding the draft, the talent available for the Cavaliers will be more akin to a typical second-rounder, making that $3 million price tag impractical.
Cleveland saw success last season in the second round, grabbing Tyrese Proctor and signing him to a multi-year standard contract. While a standard deal is rare for a second-round prospect to receive immediately, the Cavs did so to add a young, promising rookie on a cost-controlled contract.
Second-round players are not guaranteed any salaries or a main roster spot. Often, players in the second round enter a two-way deal. As of pick 31 and beyond, the Cavaliers would have better financial control for the young talent.
If the Cavs place their pick on the trade market, they could fall back into the early second round and accumulate another two second-round picks for the future in order to replicate their Proctor gamble. While players like Allen and Yessoufou are off the table, plenty of other talents will still be on the board in the early second round for the Cavaliers to target.
The San Antonio Spurs (42 and 44), Sacramento Kings (34 and 45) and Brooklyn Nets (33 and 43) have multiple second-round picks this year, which would make a trade with the Cavs to move into the first round a great deal on both sides.
Entering next season with another affordable rookie and future second-round picks is an invaluable win for a team with such an inflated salary sheet. The Cleveland Cavaliers are not likely to remain in the second apron longer than team owner Dan Gilbert deems necessary, and finding creative paths to financial freedom will be paramount to stay competitive within the confines of the new luxury tax system.
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