1978 – 2018

Westerville Police Department

End of Watch:

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Nominator: John Johnson

Officer Eric Joseph Joering was a 1997 graduate of Westerville South High School and attended the Columbus State College Police Program

On February 10, 2018 Officers Morelli and Joering were killed in the line of duty while responding to a 911 domestic violence call.

Domestic violence calls are often the most dangerous for responding officers. Although the 911 call came in to the Westerville Police Department as a hang up, and officers had been called to the residence numerous times before, Officers Morelli and Joering understood the cycle of violence and responded swiftly. They lost their lives protecting the lives of a mother and her child and the Westerville community.

Westerville Police Chief Joe Morbitzer said the word hero is thrown around like candy, but the title truly applied to Officers Morelli and Joering – long before Feb. 10.

Officer Morelli was a 29 year veteran of the Westerville Police Department. In 2012, Officer Morelli was elected by his peers as the Westerville Division of Police Officer of the Year for outstanding actions and conduct. Officer Morelli was also recognized for taking place in the 2015 Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run, supporting the Special Olympics of Ohio.

Officer Joering was a 16 year veteran of the Westerville Police Department.  During his time with the Westerville Police Department Officer Joering was a patrol officer, worked in the Detective Bureau, and then became a K-9 Officer partnered with Sam. Thankfully, Sam has gone home to live with Officer Joering’s family.

Officer Joering was three times recognized with the Exceptional Duty Award. He was also recognized with a commendation in 2013 for his role in an investigation that led to the arrest of dealers with links to high-level drug traffickers in Mexico. 

More than just dedicated officers, these two men were dedicated fathers and husbands.

Officer Morelli is survived by his wife of 28 ½ years Linda, son Christopher, daughter Elizabeth,  and future son-in-law, Dan Frank.

Officer Joering is survived by his wife Jami and his young daughters, Eva, Elena, and Ella.  

Because they responded to that call, Officer Morelli will not walk his daughter Beth down the aisle at her wedding. Officer Joering will not watch as his three young daughters, Eva, Elena, and Ella graduate from high school.

Westerville police chaplain James Meacham, a friend to both Morelli and Joering, said “We are tired of all the evil and darkness. We need the light.”

The man indicted for the murders of Officers Morelli and Joering has a history of violence and is facing two charges of aggravated murder of a police officer. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

Franklin County Prosecutor

Nominator: Jane McKenzie

Ron O’Brien is a lifelong resident of Franklin County.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican College and his Juris Doctorate degree from The Ohio State University, cum laude. After graduation from law school, he was appointed as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and later, a Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. In 1978, Ron O’Brien was appointed Columbus City Prosecutor. In 1985, Ron O’Brien was elected Columbus City Attorney, and was re-elected in 1989 and 1993. He was elected to his first term as Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney in 1996, and subsequently re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. He is now the longest serving Prosecutor in the history of Franklin County.

Ron O’Brien served as President of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and the Ohio Director on the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association. He served on the Governor’s Drunk Driving Task Force and was appointed by the Chief Justice to serve on the Joint Task Force to Review the Administration of Ohio’s Death Penalty. He has been recognized in the publication “Ohio’s Top Lawyers” and received numerous professional and civic awards. He was recently nominated by his peers throughout the state of Ohio and named Ohio’s Prosecutor of the Year for 2015.

Prosecutor O’Brien support the protection and enforcement of crime victims’ rights.  In 2017, although the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association voted to not support Marsy’s Law, Prosecutor O’Brien spoke out in favor, and spoke out strong, in support of Marsy’s Law.

“After long days in court filled with hearings that are designed to protect the rights of defendants, I often wonder why Ohio’s judicial system cannot be more balanced if you are a crime victim.”

“It’s time for equal enforceable rights for crime victims. With more than two decades of experience as Franklin County’s prosecuting attorney, I have seen firsthand the suffering that crime victims and their families endure.”

Xenia Municipal Court

Nominator: Wendy Ricks Hoff

The Honorable Michael K. Murry, who took the bench of the Xenia Municipal Court on January 2, 2008, has been a model of justice for all. Judge Murry had one mission when he was elected, to run an exemplary court and treat any person before the court with dignity and respect. This was not just a promise reserved for persons charged with an offense, but for anyone, including crime victims.

The Victim Assistance Program through the Xenia City Law Department has been a daily presence in the courtroom because of the efforts of Judge Murry in ensuring all victims of crime have a voice and have access to their rights.  Judge Murry ensures that an advocate is present at every arraignment, every in-chambers conference, trial, disposition and sentencing, and provides advocates with notice of probation terminations so that we may keep victims of crime informed about all stages of the process. Judge Murry may see a case in which an advocate is generally not involved, and is known to call the Victim Assistance Program from the bench to find out if there is victim input before proceeding. Judge Murry believes that crime victims’ input is vitally important and that crime victims’ rights are an integral part of the process.  Judge Murry is careful to ensure that both defendants and victims of crime are treated with dignity and respect, and views this position as imperative in maintaining fairness and protection of the rights of all.

Crime victims in the Xenia Municipal Court are heard and validated. Judge Murry goes the extra mile to try to understand the experiences of crime victims, and the traumatic effects that can result from those experiences. Judge Murry truly cares about making ethical, compassionate and legally sound decisions, and in his ability to affect change. It is a pleasure to advocate for victims of crime before a Judge that 100% believes that crime victims’ rights are important and meaningful.

CEO

Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center of Summit and Medina Counties

Nominator: Melissa Hamlin

Terri Heckman is the CEO of the Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center of Summit and Medina Counties. Throughout her 35 year career in victim services, Terri has added additional rights for domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the counties in which she works. She has spoken in front of hundreds of community groups and trained many generations of victim advocates with her special message about victim rights.

When Terri came to work for the Battered Women’s Shelter she excelled in her vision and development of programs that address the basic needs of crime victims by advocating for more funding and better facilities. Fast forward to present day, where she is now leading the way to the opening of a new state-of-the-art, one of a kind shelter for domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

Terri has changed the name to Center for HOPE AND HEALING and is helping thousands find their way back to a full, happy and healthy life.  The Center for HOPE AND HEALING is a model project that can be duplicated throughout the state and country.  Terri has been leading the way by encouraging other shelter directors to not settle for the old shelters that our society once thought were “good enough” for victims of violence.  Terri believes that people deserve more, deserve better, and she proved that victims will feel better about themselves when they are in an environment where they can flourish and become positive and excited about life again. 

Terri’s dream will help thousands of victims for many, many years to come.  At one of her many speaking engagements, Terri said: “Every victim deserves the right to sleep peacefully and safely in one’s own bed and home.  The right to eat a meal at a table where family and friends share stories of their day.  The right to sit on a couch and watch children playing with smiles on their faces and not a care in the world.  The right to love and to be loved.”

Survivor

Nominator: Kimberly Castor

Detective Austin is a six year veteran of the Ohio University Police Department. Throughout his career he has been recognized numerous times for his dedication to going above and beyond to better serve his community.  Detective Austin gives each investigation 110% and throughout the process remains survivor centric, trauma informed, and does anything he can to help the survivor regain control.    

Throughout his sexual assualt investigations, Detective Austin remains personable, approachable, survivor centric, trauma informed, and professional. He helps survivors regain control over their lives in any way he can. He is transparent and respectful to all involved. His approach to investigations and working with survivors of sexual assault is what all survivors deserve.

Brie Sivy is a sexual assault survivor and sophomore in college who has turned her experience into a message of courage and hope for other survivors. She has since changed her major to Social Work and is an aspiring Victim Advocate. Brie has been actively involved in work on Ohio University’s campus to improve the responses people get when they disclose an assault.

She also led organizing efforts for a Start by Believing event which drew over 200+ attendees.  Speaking publicly about her assault for the first time, she discussed her case with Detective Austin, who was the lead detective and the first person to interview her about the assault.

Together, they demonstrated what they believe other survivors should know and their goal that all survivors should receive positive responses when they disclose, just as she did from Detective Austin.  Brie’s assailant has since been convicted and was sentenced to a prison term.

Brie has taken a truly awful experience that happened to her and is using it to help others. I cannot wait to see what her future holds because, as a sophomore in college, she is already changing lives.