The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
I-90 DEDICATED TO TROOPER, OFFICER
Signs along interstate to honor OHP trooper Kenny Velez, Cleveland officer David Fahey
Signs along Interstate 90 will bear the names of two fallen law enforcers, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenny Velez and Cleveland police Officer David Fahey Jr., as a way to honor both men who were killed in the line of duty.
The Highway Patrol and the Cleveland Division of Police gathered July 10 at 14740 Lakewood Heights Blvd. in Lakewood to dedicate a portion of I-90 to both officers who were killed on the interstate.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers, Lakewood police Chief Timothy Malley, House District 7 Rep. Thomas Patton and House District 56 Rep. Dan Ramos, who represents the city of Lorain, all were in attendance.
Patton, who lost his son seven years ago in the line of duty, expressed his sympathy to the families of both men.
“We are here to celebrate the lives of, and ultimately the deaths of two heros,” he said. “... My hope is, as the years go on, young children in the car will ride by and they’ll say to their moms and dads, ‘Who was Trooper Velez? Who was David Fahey Jr.? Who were these men?’
“I hope the parents in the car will say these are remarkable men, these are the best
of the best, these are people who gave their lives to protect us, they were heros.”
Ramos, who said Velez was his cousin, also gave remarks on how it was difficult, but he is honored to be apart of the dedication.
“He was a man willing to stand in harms way everyday, so we could all be safe,” he said. “God knows how much I wish I didn’t have to, but it is truly my honor to have sponsored the legislation and the house to forever memorialize Kenny here on the roads he protected everyday.”
“I think it’s altogether fitting that from this point forward, the millions of people that travel across this road every year will see the name of a hero, think of a man who gave his all for us and as his representative, his cousin and someone who knew him, on behalf of the grateful state. I’m so proud to be here in my small part to name Trooper Kenny Velez an hero.”
Velez, who worked out of the Cleveland Post, was conducting a traffic stop when
he was struck outside his patrol car at 12:52 p.m. Sept. 27, 2016, near West 117th St.
He has been part of the Highway Patrol since 1988 and graduated in 1989 as a member of the 118th academy class. He is survived by his three children.
Joshua Gaspar, 34, of Columbia Station, is facing charges in Velez’s death. Gaspar has a pretrial scheduled at 9:30 a.m., July 24, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Gaspar is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter and driving while under the influence.
Fahey died Jan. 24, while trying to help protect motorists from a crash that happened on I-90. He was struck while setting up flares.
Israel Alvarez, 45, of Lorain, is facing charges in Fahey’s death. Alvarez has a pretrial set at 1:30 p.m., Aug. 8, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Alvarez is facing aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, driving while under the influence and drug possession charges.