CLEVELAND, N.Y. — The family of Officer Jamieson Ritter, a Webster native killed in the line of duty while serving the Cleveland Police Department, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Cleveland and the department.
The lawsuit claims that the department’s lack of resources and training, along with failure to follow policies, contributed to Ritter’s death two years ago. The 27-year-old officer was shot and killed on July 4, 2024, while serving a warrant to a man wanted in connection with the deadly shooting of his grandmother. The man accused of killing Ritter, De’Lawnte Hardy, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial at this time.
RELATED: Parents of fallen officer Jamieson Ritter speak about his service and sacrifice
The lawsuit alleges that the department had a “grossly understaffed police force” that made it hazardous to respond to calls. The suit also says hundreds of officers chose to be transferred to other departments or retire early because of a hostile work environment, and that Ritter was looking for work at another department before he was killed.
“The City of Cleveland had far fewer officers on patrol on the streets of Cleveland, as well as far fewer supervisors in their districts that were even available to respond to and/or supervise an incident and/or crime scene,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit, filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, is asking for $25,000 in compensation. You can read the full lawsuit at the bottom of this story. The Cleveland Police Department provided this statement regarding the lawsuit:
“This cold-blooded murder was a horrific tragedy that has caused unimaginable grief for Officer Ritter’s family, friends, and fellow officers. We continue to empathize with the family, as it’s an absolute shame that 2 years have passed and the criminal case has yet to result in a conviction. We’ll continue to look for additional ways we can honor Jamieson’s legacy and will let our attorneys handle the lawsuit side of things.”
More of our coverage:
- Ohio governor signs law backed by parents of fallen Officer Jamieson Ritter of Webster
- Rochester and Gates police officers begin four-day bicycle ride to honor fallen officers
- Webster native and police officer killed in the line of duty memorialized with lodge dedication
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