Jay McDonald, president of the FOP of Ohio, said the organization is launching a statewide campaign, including radio public safety announcements, to stress to drivers why it is important to move over and/or slow down when an officer has someone pulled over on the side of the road.
"Too many police are being injured and killed in a completely senseless way, including one right here in Ohio earlier this year," McDonald said.
In January, Cleveland Officer David Fahey was killed after responding to a crash along Interstate 90 in Rocky River. He was allegedly hit by a vehicle driven by Israel Alvarez, who is facing aggravated vehicular homicide and hit-skip charges.
Last September, state Trooper Kenneth Velez, 48, was killed along I-90 in Cleveland, hit by a vehicle operated by Joshua Gaspar, whose charges now include aggravated vehicle homicide.
Columbus Police Officer Judy Lawrence survived her ordeal, but not without great pain and a long recovery. The 31-year veteran of the department was dragged and pinned under a vehicle after she stopped to help a driver along I-71 in January 2014, and another driver slammed into them. Only her head and shoulders were sticking out from under the vehicle.
Lawrence sustained a broken ankle and leg, two broken ribs, a spinal injury, nerve damage in her left arm, a concussion and a laceration on her head that required 22 stitches. She endured 18 months of physical therapy and multiple surgeries.
She returned to full duty 22 months after the accident, but can no longer work the streets because of her leg and neck.
Lawrence said she didn't remember the impact, which she called a "blessing." "It seemed like I was there forever, but it was probably only 10 minutes before help came."
"It was hard on the family, because when they were notified, they think the worst," she said. "They were so scared. God was with me. I was blessed. I fit underneath the car."
The driver, Jarrett R. Lumpkin, who had marijuana in his system, pleaded guilty to felony vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving under the influence and was sentenced to one year in prison.
"If you see a vehicle on the side of the roadway, please move over and slow down," Lawrence said during a Wednesday press conference.
The public awareness campaign will include the hashtag #MoveOver. McDonald said every law enforcement agency in the state has been asked to focus on enforcing the law requiring drivers to move over if possible, or at least slow down if a lane change is not possible.
The current punishment for failing to do so is a minor misdemeanor. Under legislation soon to be introduced by Reps. Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, and Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati, the penalty would go to a first-degree misdemeanor if the action results in injury or death.
"Treat these people who are doing the people's work on the site of an accident like family," said Patton, whose own son was an officer who died in the line of duty in 2010.
"I saw how his daughter had to react to his loss, and his entire family. We hope this will educate and inspire people to drive carefully and understand what we're dealing with here."
jsiegel@dispatch.com
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