First responders escorted body of fallen Cleveland officer to Webster
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The body of Officer Jamieson Ritter, the 27-year-old Webster native killed in the line of duty in Cleveland, has returned to the Rochester area.
First responders are escorting Officer Ritter’s body to the Falvo Funeral Home in Webster. They set up American flags above the overpasses along 590 and 104 leading to Webster to honor Ritter’s service and to prepare for the procession.
Ritter, a McQuaid Jesuit graduate, was shot and killed the morning of the Fourth of July while trying to arrest a suspect. A suspect has been charged with the aggravated murder of Ritter.
The wake will take place at the funeral home on Friday from 4 until 8 p.m. The funeral will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Browncroft Community Church in Penfield.
A memorial service in a Cleveland cathedral on Monday honored Ritter’s service ahead of his body being escorted to the Rochester area. His partner in the Cleveland Police Department spoke about Ritter’s commitment to service.
“He was my best friend, my brother, and the absolute epitome of a police officer,” Officer Brittany Vajusi said.
Many people stood silently along the route to honor Officer Ritter.
Shannon Temple is a former police officer. She lives in Webster and was waiting for the procession with her son. She thinks it is important to be there and show support.
“It’s important to show respect for the fallen officer being an officer myself, prior.”
As a former officer, she went to work worrying about the danger for herself and her family, which is why she left the police force.
“I think of all my fellow officers and the families that go along with that, and how difficult it can be.”
Although Temple said the next few days are going to be difficult, there is an outpouring of support.
“I’ve been to many funerals, and it’s sad, but you just look around and you see thousands of people showing their support and respect for the officer.”
Natalie Wright from Webster said, “I had tears running down my face, I cried thinking about it but yes I did, I was seeing the flags, I was taking pictures, they all have their lights on the fire trucks, very beautiful.”
Officer Ritter’s obituary says he will be buried at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester. The family is asking people to contribute to the Cleveland Police Foundation in his memory.
Ritter is the son of retired Greece Police Officer Jon Ritter. The elder Ritter was credited with saving lives on Christmas Eve of 2012 when a man set a fire and shot and killed responding firefighters on Lake Road.