The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Officials seek to honor Mazany
Council wants to rename portion of Route 2 for fallen officer
Mentor city leaders want to make sure Patrolman Mathew J. Mazany isn’t forgotten.
A resolution requesting that the state legislature dedicate a portion of Route 2 in his memory is on the Jan. 15 City Council agenda.
“We discussed several things that we could do and that’s kind of the standard thing done to honor the policemen who lost their lives in the line of service,” Council President John Krueger said.
The plan is to rename the stretch of freeway where he was struck and killed by a car while providing backup at 1 a.m., June 24. The hit-and-run crash occurred eastbound, just east of Route 306.
“It is the most appropriate place to serve as a reminder of the sacrifice he made for the community,” said Community Relations Administrator Ante Logarusic.
“He will also be honored at services in Cleveland, Columbus and Washington, D.C., later this spring for respective services for officers who have died in the line of duty the past year.”
Mazany served the department “with distinction for over 14 years and was the recipient of the department’s Exceptional Service Award,” the legislation reads. “And … over his career he consistently received letters from grateful residents on his professional and compassionate interaction with them; and … it was his life ambition since childhood to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer; and ... the job of a police officer is inherently laden with risk. Yet these brave men and women accept that risk in service to their commuare nities and the people they sworn to protect. Despite this knowledge, we find ourselves shocked and heartbroken when a life is lost as a result of that service.
“These very special public servants are truly among the best our society offers and our most selfless resource; and … Mentor City Council and administration, the police officers and co-workers he served with, and the residents of this City are very proud of and grateful to Mathew J. Mazany for what he gave to this community in life, and wish to always remember his great sacrifice.”
The resolution will be forwarded to state Reps. John M. Rogers, D-Mentoron-the-Lake, and Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township; and state Senators John J. Eklund, R-Munson Township, and Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights.
Brian Anthony of Kirtland is charged with second-degree aggravated vehicular homicide in Mazany’s death. He also faces second- and third-degree felony charges of failing to stop after an accident, and misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of the two; and failing to proceed with due caution, and/or failing to change lanes when approaching a stationary public safety vehicle displaying emergency lights.
On the felony charges, he faces a maximum of 21 years behind bars.
A jury trial is scheduled to begin March 11 in front of Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell.
Anthony has been held in the Lake County Jail since June.