Honor for those who gave their all.

You will never be forgotten.

Cero Ashtabula County Ohio Sheriff's Office Cero is a 1 1/2 year old Black and Red male He is a good Czech male Cero has nice temperment and good working

CERO, ASHTABULA County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit, was shot and killed as he attempted to protect law enforcement officers at a shoot-out in Jefferson on Saturday. Above, taken in February, Sheriff William Niemi, the handler, is pictured with the German shepherd.

One of four fully trained K-9 teams patrolling the county, Cero was shot and killed in the line of duty Saturday morning, when he protected fellow officers from gun-wielding Levi Ridenour, who allegedly murdered Jefferson resident Walter Olson. "There is no doubt in my mind or in my officers' minds, Cero saved two officers lives today," Ashtabula County Sheriff William R. Johnson said. " (Ridenour) was in (Ashtabula Street) with a shotgun when the K­9 attacked. Cero diverted the shooter's attention, who fired point blank at the police dog with a pistol," Johnson said. Ridenour, who was shot several times by officers, was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, where he died shortly thereafter. Johnson said Cero will be sorely missed. He said he couldn't say enough to convey his department's feelings about the loss of a fellow officer. "Cero died in the line of duty. Our officers will feel the void of his absence on the midnight shift. Cero was devoted and bonded to his trainer, Deputy Bill Niemi, and was a friend to all uniformed officers on the force," Johnson said. Niemi was not available for comment.

Cero, a European­imported German shepherd, responded to German commands as well as to hand signals, police said. "I'm a German shepherd advocate. The breed is intelligent and loyal beyond belief," Lt. Joseph Bernardo said, in a previous story about police dogs at work. "They are the best partner an officer can have. They're the only breed willing to lay down his life to protect yours, without a second thought." "Cero did just that: gave his life to protect fellow officers," Johnson said. Cero was the smallest of the four county K­9 units, weighing in at 65 pounds. In addition to other cases and routine drug sweeps, the dog previously aided in locating an Ashtabula convenience store robbery suspect in a hiding place behind a woodpile, Bernardo said.

The K­9 teams make arrests which might have been missed without the dogs' special talents, he added. At any given time, there is at least one team on duty, ready to track suspects, conduct drug searches and, most importantly, protect their partners and other law enforcement officers to the point of death, if necessary, he added. "Once the bond between dog and trainer is there, it's there," Bernardo said. This bond makes it difficult for officers to place the dog in harm's way, but they realize what the dog's job is: to protect fellow officers, he said. "Ashtabula County is a good county. It just goes to show, there is no defense against this type of violence anywhere," he said. "We utilize any and all resources we can get our hands on. Today, in this line of work, we can never have enough resources," Johnson said. Johnson said the dogs are a necessity today. "They are a tremendous asset to our department. They can't be outrun and they can get into places an officer can't," he said. "We're reaping the benefits, and the dogs are getting better and better," Johnson said. Saturday, the benefit was paid for with Deputy Cero's life.

ASHTABULA COUNTY Sheriff's deputy William Niemi carries the urn containing the ashes of his K-9 partner Cero Thursday to the 4-H Building at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds in Jefferson.

21 guns, 75 dogs offer final salute Force turns out for Cero's funeral

By DIANA LEWIS Staff Writer JEFFERSON -

More than 120 police cars, light bars flashing, wound their way through the solemn, sunlit streets of Jefferson Thursday morning in tribute to K-9 Cero, shot and killed in the line of duty Saturday in the village. As the procession turned into the west entrance of the Ashtabula County fairgrounds, the silence was broken only by the barking of 75 police dogs. The lead cars pulled into their places and a phalanx of uniformed officers lined the roadway, snapped to attention and were led in a salute by recently retired Sheriff's Deputy "Papa" Joe Keefe. Members of the county SWAT team fired a 21-gun salute, and a member of the Cleveland Police Department Pipes and Drum Corps played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipe. The service was attended by police officers from as far away as Illinois and Pennsylvania, as well as local law enforcement and the community at large. Following the tributes outside, Cero's partner, Deputy William Niemi, moved the urn carrying Cero's ashes inside the 4-H building, accompanied by his fellow Ashtabula County K-9 officers. A crowd numbering about 500 watched in awed silence as each of the K-9 teams walked slowly across the floor to the urn, flanked by photos of the 3-year-old German shepherd. Facing the urn, the dogs were instructed to sit, and each human officer raised his hand in the slow, deliberate salute to a fallen comrade. The service ended in a prayer and a reception for family and friends. Later in the day, Niemi sifted through memories and more of the mail that has inundated him since the death of his partner. "I just got some from the fifth graders at Ridgeview Elementary," he said. "Every student made their own card. It made me laugh. I needed it." Niemi said the service and reaction of the community has been overwhelming. "From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful to everyone," Niemi said. "I don't have words to say how very thankful I am to the citizens and residents of Ashtabula County. There are so many good people out there. The support is so important." Niemi said he wasn't sure he wanted another police dog. He and Cero had worked together since November, but he remains a fan of the K-9 program. "After today though, seeing the support - yeah, I think I do want another dog," he said. "I love it. I love dogs. Just seeing this support, it makes me want to do it all over again." The sheriff's department is still looking into what may have prompted Levi Ridenour, 22, to walk into the street early Saturday morning, armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, and a .22-caliber handgun and a pocket full of ammunition. Ridenour, who lived along East Ashtabula Street, apparently was walking south on Center Street when he encountered Walter Olson, 51, out for a morning walk to nearby Oakdale Cemetery. The young man shot Olson at least two times with the shotgun, killing him instantly, and continued on, calmly reloading the pump-action shotgun as he went. His next confrontation was with deputies and officers of the sheriff's office and Jefferson Police Department. Ridenour responded to police orders to drop his weapon by pumping three rapid-fire shots into a cruiser. When K-9 Cero attacked, grabbing Ridenour's arm, he responded by shooting the dog in the chest. While he was distracted by the dog, Ridenour was shot at least 10 times. He died in Cleveland MetroHealth Center later that morning. Sheriff's Detective Joseph Bernardo said their are working on a motive for the tragic incident, and have been following up rumors concerning Ridenour. "We've heard some rumors, and are checking things out," Bernardo said. Bernardo denied there was a large ammunition purchase from the Jefferson Golden Dawn, and said his detectives looked into another incident involving possible threats of retaliation. A rumor circulating states three people were overheard in a local bar, boasting they would "make the police pay," and the school would be involved. "We found the people involved in that incident, talked to them, and found out the conversation actually occurred prior to Saturday's incident," Bernardo said. Bernardo said his department is looking at all rumors and leads. "We feel (they are just) rumors, but we're prepared for it," he said. Toxicology reports from Ridenour's autopsy are not complete, Bernardo said, but it is believed he was drinking the night before, and the morning of the shooting. Reports he also was taking drugs have not been confirmed, he said. Bernardo said Ridenour was no stranger to area law enforcement agencies. "We had some reports he was involved in, and the Ashtabula Police Department had several," Bernardo said. "I believe he was also involved in a domestic incident in the last few months. But there was nothing to indicate he would do something like this."

Residents turn out to pay homage to police officers

By DIANA LEWIS Staff Writer JEFFERSON -

Jefferson resident Joanne Powell said she attended the funeral of Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office K-9 Cero Thursday morning to demonstrate her community's appreciation to the men and women who serve in law enforcement. "I think we needed this today for closure. We need to show (police officers) we're behind them 100 percent," Powell said. "That's what we need to overcome these tragedies." Powell said she was five miles away from the center of Saturday's maelstrom when she witnessed the rush of police response from every direction. "They responded, and did what they had to do," she said. "I've come to pay my respects. I think Jefferson village is a loving community and we just all band together," she said. "I want to show my gratitude to the sheriff's office and the village police. I'm proud to live here and we continue to feel safe here." Powell said Cero "laid down his life for this community." Shirley Payne, Ashtabula, said she drove down for the service "just to give tribute to the dog." "It's great what they're doing," she said of the service. "He saved two lives, something he deserved to be recognized for. Even though some say he was just a dog, he was more than a dog." Julianne Oatman attended the service with her 10-week-old son, Benjamin. She is the wife of Ashtabula Police Detective James Oatman. "This kind of support is very important to them," she said. "I think it would be harder for police officers to do their job without the support of the community." Sheriff's Detective Joseph Bernardo said his department was overwhelmed by the response. "We're not trying to put a dog over humans," Bernardo said. "But besides being a fellow officer, if not for (Cero) we could be attending services for two (human) officers. That's why this tribute is so important; to get closure, so we can move on." Bernardo said some people think of police dogs as mean. "Their first thought is, all it does is bite, but that's not true," he said. "They're trained for attack, but the do much more than that. They can search for people or children who are lost. They are very important to the community." An anonymous poem tribute to "The Working Dog," was displayed at the fairgrounds ceremony, to explain the worth of such dogs to their partners and the community at large: "My eyes are your eyes, to watch and protect your and yours. My ears are your ears, to hear and detect evil minds in the dark. My nose is your nose, to scent the invader in your domain. And so you may live, my life is also yours." A 15-year K-9 handler from Shaker Heights, who participated in the service, put the concept of the police dog into perspective. "That's what these dogs are for. If they can save a human life, that's what they are for," K-9 Officer Mike Matsik said. Bending down and giving his dog, Aero, an affectionate pat, Matsik said, "They're one of us. They live with you 24 hours a day. But I'd rather replace a dog than tell some wife her husband isn't coming home."

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