(WJW) – “A true hero” will be remembered Saturday as family, loved ones and police say goodbye to Euclid Police Officer Jacob Derbin with a funeral mass and burial.
Killed in the line of duty
The 23-year-old officer was killed Saturday, May 11, while responding to a call at a home in the 300 block of East 211.e Street just before 10 p.m
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Police say a gunman ambushed the young officer. Derbin died in hospital.
He was a first-year officer with the Euclid Police Department.
Hometown hero
The Cuyahoga Heights High graduate completed a tour of duty in the Middle East before graduating from the Kent State University Police Academy.
“My Jakey was an incredible, special and unique young man. He protected his family, his country and his community. He is my hero. He had his whole life ahead of him. We were all looking forward to seeing him marry his soulmate in July,” his mother, Dawn Derbin, told the FOX 8 I-Team.
Jacob’s obituary describes the young man as kind-hearted and selfless.
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“He had a huge smile that always lit up a room. Jacob enjoyed spending time with his fiancée, Liv, getting late night snacks, watching movies, and talking about the future. He enjoyed hanging out with his family, whether on an outing or having drinks by the fire. He was always the loudest in a room and tried to make everyone laugh. Knowing Jacob was like having another family member in your life.”
Officer Derbin’s casket was carried into the church just before 11:45 a.m. on Saturday.
“This is a heavy loss. And while we have a full church today, we must be there for Jacob’s family in the weeks and months to come,” the priest said as the services began.
“Jacob was a good man,” the priest noted.
“Who Jacob was – was a testament to his own family and how he was raised,” he added.
“He never felt ashamed. He danced and sang in public,” the priest said of Jacob.
Jacob’s fiancée, Liv, spoke at the funeral.
“He was so excited to go to work every day that he left for his shift an hour and a half early,” she said.
During the service she read a letter she had written to Jacob as part of their Catholic wedding preparation.
“To my best friend: Our life was like a fairy tale that children read about. I was the cheerleader who fell in love with the football player,” Liv said.
“You made me feel like I could do anything with your love and support,” she read.
“Thank you for meeting my insecurities with kindness.”
Funeral services
On Saturday, a procession left the funeral home to escort Derbin’s family to the church and cemetery.
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A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home18149 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights
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The procession will depart at 10:15 a.m. and head east on Bagley/Pleasant Valley Road and then north on Broadview Road to St. Columbkille Church
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St. Columbkille Church6740 Broadview Road, Parma, 11am
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The procession leaves the church after the funeral mass north on Broadview to Rockside Road, then east on Rockside Road to Brecksville Road (Route 21), north on Brecksville Road to E. 71st Street, north on E. 71st to St. Mary’s Cemetery
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered flags to fly at half-staff until sunset on Saturday.
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