How to donate in memory of officer Jamieson Ritter

[In the player above, watch a local memorial service for Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter.]

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Cleveland Police Foundation’s Heroes Fund has pledged support for the family of slain Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter , and is now accepting donations.

Ritter, a four-year veteran of the police department, was shot and killed in the line of duty in the early morning of July 4, while responding to a report of a wanted suspect. He was 27.

“He is a real hero and deserves our respect. He gave his life in the line of duty while serving the community he came to love,” Dick Clough, foundation chair and president, is quoted in the release.

The local nonprofit supports police officers and their families when they face “catastrophe” or when an officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, according to the release.

To donate to the Heroes Fund, visit the foun dation’s website or mail a check to Cleveland Police Foundation, Heroes Fund, 2301 Payne Ave. Suite 201, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Ritter hailed from Webster, New York, and graduated in 2015 from McQuaid Jesuit High School, according to a previous news release from city police. He earned a degree from Syracuse University in 2019 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army National Guard.

He served the Guard with the 134th Field Artillery Regiment, before joining Cleveland police along with more than a dozen other officers in November 2020. He and his unit deployed to Syria in 2022, according to the release. He then came back to the city police force in 2023.

Mere months after his return to the Cleveland police roster, Ritter and another officer were named officers of the month, and commended for their “compassion and dedication” earlier this year when death was on the line, according to the foundation .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.