Officers’ slaying tragically familiar

It will be 46 years on March 22 when I lost my husband, Curtis L. Staton, who was killed on duty for the Columbus Division of Police. I was 27 and left with three little girls at the time — 6, 3 and 18 months. Friends, neighbors and my church surrounded us with love and everyone helped however they could.

Columbus police and the Fraternal Order of Police were extremely helpful, planning Curt’s funeral and burial at Sunset Cemetery. The former mayor, M.E. Sensenbrenner, was at the funeral and the graveside service. He came up to me afterward and asked what he could do to help. I told him that my 6-year- old daughter would love one of the little flags that he was well-known to give out to everyone. Rather than one of the tiny flags, he took a rhinestone flag off his lapel and told me to give it to my daughter. She has it to this day!

Domestic-violence calls are the worst of the worst. Both the fine officers of Westerville and my husband were killed over fights between two people. All three were ambushed without a chance to defend themselves.

As I watched the live news of the funerals, memories flooded when the folding of the flags took place, the firing of the arms, the bagpipes and the helicopters flying overhead. I had to choke up when this was happening.

It is heartbreaking to see the two families in Westerville lose their husbands and fathers. I know, firsthand, what damage a family suffers from that point on. In 1972, there were no grief support groups for children, and that would have been tremendous during that time.

May the community continue its support and may God bless these families.

Jennifer (Staton) Wilford Dublin