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Thousands attend funeral of devoted Twinsburg Patrolman Joshua Miktarian
By Phil Trexler and Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writers
Published on Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
OAKWOOD: A community paused Friday for Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian.
More than 3,000 family members, friends and fellow police officers who filled Mount Zion Baptist Church heard of his love for his wife, his new baby, his band and his devotion to his police work.
Twinsburg Mayor Katherine Procop told the mourners that while the slain officer can't be here for them, ''his spirit and his legacy are.''
And as a result, ''we will care more, we will love more, and we will really know what it means to stand together through good times and bad.''
His Twinsburg police shift commander, officer David Fenske, noted that in his Tallmadge High School yearbook, under ''ambitions,'' Miktarian said he wanted to be a policeman who brought racial harmony to the community, to be ''the best police officer this [side] of the Mississippi.''
''You did it, Josh,'' he said.
Turning to Miktarian's widow, Oakwood police officer Holly Miktarian, Fenske said: ''Holly, I want you to know you will be taken care of, by all of us. Thea will know her dad.''
Police Chief Christopher Noga recalled the noticeable change in Miktarian's demeanor when his daughter was born three months ago.
There was more than the usual smile of a proud father.
''With Josh, there was something new to that look. He looked complete. He had arrived,'' the chief said.
Noga also talked about the contract officers have to uphold the Constitution, and how most people they stop honor that contract.
Miktarian, 33, was shot and killed during a traffic stop Sunday morning. The suspect is charged with aggravated murder.
''This traffic stop ended tragically and terribly,'' Noga said, ''because someone failed to uphold their end of the contract.''
Several speakers recalled Miktarian's ambition and work ethic — as well as his sense of humor. They talked of pranks he'd play at work, such as leaving the speed-radar trailer parked outside the chief's home on several occasions.
They talked about his athletic prowess as a Tallmadge football player, his business ambitions as a pizza shop owner and his music as an accomplished guitarist.
''Josh, you have answered your call to greatness,'' Procop said. ''We love you, buddy. Rest in peace.''
Earlier, bagpipes played amid a sea of police officers lined
outside the church to give a collective salute as the procession pulled up with Miktarian's body. A Twinsburg officer escorted Holly Miktarian, dressed in her police uniform, into the church.
Miktarian's police K-9 partner, Bagio, riding in a cruiser marked ''Out of service,'' barked as the procession pulled in front of the church. During the service, the German shepherd sat in front, near the flag-draped coffin.
The funeral procession to the church — including about 50 police cars and 20 police motorcycles — started in Miktarian's hometown of Tallmadge, driving up state Route 91 toward Oakwood Village.
Hundreds of people lined the procession route, including Charlie Oldfield, 39, who sat in a lawn chair outside the Fifth Third Bank on North Avenue.
''My brother is a police officer,'' said Oldfield, a Youngstown attorney who lives in Cuyahoga Falls. ''These guys put their lives on the line.''
As the procession passed McDonald's in Munroe Falls, the entire nine-person crew stood in front of the store on state Route 91.
Becky Trigilio, who manages the store, said someone signaled to her when the procession was nearing the intersection and the crew hurried outside.
''It's important to show respect,'' said Trigilio, 52.
As the funeral began in Oakwood, firefighters extended ladders and hung a large flag between two trucks at Twinsburg's Crown Hill Cemetery, so the funeral procession would pass below.
About 20 volunteers from the American Red Cross were stationed at both the church and the cemetery to assist people. About 7,500 bottles of water were available for mourners in anticipation of 90-degree temperatures.
As the funeral procession slowly inched its way through the cemetery toward the grave site, two Portage County sisters stood 50 yards behind the graves and held American flags.
Linda Dillon, the mother of Cpl. Benjamin Dillon of Edinburg Township, a 22-year-old Army ranger who was killed in northern Iraq in October, stood with her sister, Bev Nissel of Streetsboro.
Mrs. Dillon wore her son's dog tags around her neck.
Anticipating the emotion she would feel when the procession arrived, Mrs. Dillon said, ''I'm going to stand here and cry.''
As the hearse approached the grave site, a riderless horse from the Summit County Sheriff's Office, boots reversed in the stirrups, led the way. Marchers from The Pipes and Drums of the Cleveland Police followed.
The graveside service concluded with a three-round volley by the Euclid Police Rifle Squad, the playing of taps, and the pipe and drum corps playing Amazing Grace.
Then a radio dispatch taking officer Miktarian out of service was broadcast throughout the cemetery.
''May he rest in peace,'' the dispatcher said.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com. Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
OAKWOOD: A community paused Friday for Twinsburg police officer Joshua Miktarian.
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