'End of Watch' ceremony to honor fallen police officer

Nancy Disbro, of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, lays a wreath at the Feb. 21 End of Watch ceremony honoring Patrolman Norman C. Reker, who was shot in the line of duty in 1948.

An "End of Watch" ceremony in memory of Cleveland Heights Police Officer Thomas F. Patton II, who died in the line of duty five years ago, will be held at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, March 13, at the Police Memorial near the front door of Cleveland Heights City Hall.

The ceremony will last about 20 minutes and is open to the public. It is being held by the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association in conjunction with the CHPD.

Patton suffered a fatal heart attack while chasing an assault suspect on March 13, 2010 in the area of Coventry and Mayfield roads. He had been a member of the force for nine years.

Patton is one of four Cleveland Heights police officers who have died in the line of duty. The others are:

• Capt. Edward B. Connolly, shot while responding to a burglary; died Sept. 8, 1920.
• Patrolman Norman C. Reker, shot while responding to a robbery; died Feb. 21, 1948.
• Officer Jason West, shot while responding to a disturbance; died May 26, 2007.
  
  

As part of its public service mission to the community and the police department, the newly formed Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association has begun organizing End of Watch ceremonies on the anniversary of each fallen officer's death. The first such ceremony was held last month in Reker's memory.