The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Avon remembers fallen officer
Friends, family and colleagues came together to remember Vu Nguyen, a 20year veteran of the Cleveland police, on July 12.
Nguyen, an Avon resident died on July 6 after suffering a medical emergency during a police training exercise.
The procession began in Avon’s Stonebridge development at about 9 a.m. proceeding to Our Lady of Angels church on Rocky River Drive in Cleveland followed by a graveside service at Lakewood Park Cemetery.
According to a Cleveland police report, Nguyen collapsed on July 2 during a 1.5 mile training run as part of the agency’s canine handler eligibility process. Nguyen was participating in the physical fitness part of the process with other candidates with temperatures over 90 degrees.
He was transported by ambulance to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland before being flown to The Cleveland Clinic where he passed away on July 6.
Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia, public information officer for the Cleveland Division of Police was a close friend of Vu’s and one of his neighbors in Avon.
“This loss was a shock. Vu was like a second dad to my daughter. We could always count on his help if we needed him for anything,” Ciaccia wrote. “At work and around northeast Ohio, ev-
erybody knew him. His personality was larger than life. He loved his wife and kids so dearly along with his very large family.”
She remembered Nguyen as someone who was very proud of his Vietnamese heritage and how much he loved being a police officer. Immigrating from Vietnam as a child with his parents during the Vietnam War, Nguyen was the youngest
boy of 16 siblings, Ciaccia said. His family being wellknown for operating west side restaurants including Minh Anh, Bac and Ninja City.
“The past ten days were hard for a lot of people. Today we laid to rest a hero. Vu was truly one of the good guys. The Cleveland Division of Police is so thankful for the outpouring of support from the community over- all and for that of the Avon Police Department who assisted with many things including the motorcade this morning,” Ciaccia added.
City of Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen ordered the city’s flags lowered to half-mast on July 6 in his honor. A resident of Avon’s Stonebridge development, neighbors lit blue lights and held police flags in Nguyen’s honor in a show of solidarity.
Jensen said the community is rallying around Nguyen and his family both as Avon residents and in commemoration of his service in keeping the community safe.
“I think that it says a lot about how we feel about our safety forces when they put their lives on the line for us every day,” Jensen said. “When we lose someone that serves our community I think we’re all hurting.”
Nguyen, 50, spent more than 20 years with the Cleveland Division of Police in addition to serving four years with the Cleveland Division of Corrections. Nguyen most recently served in department’s Third District. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
In a ceremonial final radio call for service, the department thanked Nguyen for his service.
“A grateful city thanks you for your outstanding service. Officer Vu Nguyen, badge number 1534, your assignment here is complete. Godspeed, sir,” the broadcast said.