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Fallen police officers remembered

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -  As the name of 25 police officers killed in the line of duty is read one by one like a final roll call, a single rose for each fallen comrade is placed in a wreath and saluted by fellow officers vowing never to forget.

Family, friends and community leaders gathered at Via Mt. Carmel Church in Youngstown for the Annual Fallen Officers Memorial Ceremony.

Robert Litch was only 12-years-old when his father, Mahoning County Sheriff's Deputy Sonny Litch was killed, "It's still hard.  I get upset and still feel the pain.  But I love my father, and I'll always love my father.  My heart goes out to all of the other families that have lost a loved one."

The program is sponsored by three Fraternal Order of Police Lodges representing Youngstown Police, Youngstown State University Police and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department.

Fallen Officers from the Mahoning Valley:  

William Freed, May 17, 1891, Youngstown Police Department

Alfred Evans, November 5, 1911, Youngstown Police Department

Samuel Banks, October 4, 1919, Youngstown Police Department

John Constantino, May 11, 1920, Campbell Police Department

Alexander Warren, May 3, 1921, Youngstown Police Department

Walter Flickinger, June 7, 1923, Lowellville Police Department

Joe Ruby, November 11, 1923, Campbell Police Department

George Leonard, March 29, 1924, Youngstown Police Department

Ben Yeaden, February 27, 1925, Youngstown Police Department

Henry Clemens, December 4, 1927, Youngstown Police Department

John Harkins, January 1, 1952, Struthers Police Department

Raymond Darwich, November 16, 1952, Struthers Police Department

Frank Cichon, December 21, 1963, Youngstown Police Department

Albert Masi, February 12, 1973, Campbell Police Department

William "Bud" Comm, August 12, 1975, YSU Police Department

John "Sonny" Litch, October 22, 1981, Mahoning Co. Sheriff's Department

Richard Becker, November 6, 1983, Poland Township Police Department

Charles Yates, March 30, 1984, Poland Township Police Department

Ralph DeSalle, June 13th, 1984, Youngstown Police Department

Paul Durkin, September 21, 1987, Youngstown Police Department

Millard Williams, April 14, 1992, Youngstown Police Department

Steve Malkovits, May 21, 1993, Youngstown Police Department

Carmen "Skip" Renda, March 16, 1996, Youngstown Police / YSU Police

William Rickets, April 2, 1997, New Middletown Police Department

Michael T. Hartzell, April 29, 2003, Youngstown Police Department