Officer Jamieson Ritter’s body escorted back to New York ahead of funeral

CLEVELAND (WJW) – An emotional motorcade has escorted the body of fallen Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter back to his hometown of Rochester, New York.

New York State police met the procession along the route and led them to Falvo Funeral Home in Webster, New York, where citizens lined the streets paying tribute to Ritter.

The funeral will be held Saturday, July 13 at 10 a.m. at Browncroft Community Church in Rochester followed by a private interment.

Friends in Northeast Ohio can watch the service streaming live.

At a memorial Monday in Cleveland, officer Ritter was remembered for his dynamic personality, selfless nature and heroism.

Loved ones and friends back home admit they are still stunned by his death.

“It came as a shock to everyone who knew him,” said Lt. Zachary Baxter.

Baxter first met Ritter at Syracuse University. The young men were in the ROTC program together. They also were commissioned as Second Lieutenants and trained together at Ft. Sill Army Base in Oklahoma.

Lt. Ritter served in the Army National Guard and was deployed overseas.

Friends say that’s what makes his death now so surreal.

“It’s a really weird feeling and tough to process just because it’s so unexpected,” said Baxter. “He went to Syria and came back safe and then to have this happen on 4th of July is not something you’re prepared for.”

Officer Ritter was selected as Officer of the Month in May for saving two lives and in his four short years on the force left a lasting impact.

For days, strangers left flowers, flags and other mementos on his cruiser outside of Third District. The cruiser is now also heading to New York for the services.

Lt. Baxter says he will never forget his friend’s personality and spirit.

“Just the joy he’d bring into a room, the ability to make someone laugh, to make any situation positive, and that smile, and that laugh he had was contagious. Just like the happiest person in the world,” Baxter said.

Officer Ritter was killed early in the morning on July 4 while serving a warrant on a dangerous felon with multiple other officers.

Police say 24-year-old Delawnte Hardy tried to flee but then opened fire striking Ritter. He is also accused of shooting his grandmother.

Despite all of that, Baxter says they will celebrate their friend’s life and sacrifice because he was doing what he loved.

“It’s incredible to hear the stories coming out of this tragedy of just what a dedicated public servant he was,” he said. “You can’t be to sad about that. Sad about circumstances for sure, but at least he was following his passion in life. That makes it a little easier, I think, for folks that knew him.”

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