Ohio-- As he recounted the events leading to the death yesterday of a deputy sheriff he recalls hiring years ago, Sheriff Gene A. Kelly’s voice cracked with emotion.
This is the worst day of my 24 years as the sheriff of Clark County, Kelly said.The deputy, Suzanne Hopper, was shot and killed and a township police officer was seriously wounded after responding to a report of gunfire near this village west of Springfield.
Kelly said that before yesterday, none of his deputies had lost their lives in the line of duty during his time as sheriff. Hopper, a veteran of the sheriff’s office and mother of a son and daughter, was married six months ago. Kelly said she received several commendations for her work and led the department’s fund raising for charity.
She’s the kind of deputy you’d want to come to your house, Kelly said. We are an agency and a community that will mourn this loss for a very long time.
Kelly said that before yesterday, none of his deputies had lost their lives in the line of duty during his time as sheriff. Hopper, a veteran of the sheriff’s office and mother of a son and daughter, was married six months ago. Kelly said she received several commendations for her work and led the department’s fund raising for charity.
She’s the kind of deputy you’d want to come to your house, Kelly said. We are an agency and a community that will mourn this loss for a very long time.
