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Portion Of I-70 To Be Renamed In Honor Of Fallen Officer

Republican State Senator Chris Widener of Springfield announced yesterday that part of Ohio Senate Bill 325, passed yesterday, includes a portion of Interstate 0 in Clark County will be named for a fallen police officer. WYSO's Jerry Kenney has the details.Sheriff's Deputy Suzanne Hopper was killed in the line of duty on New Year's Day while investigating a domestic dispute at Enon Beach in Clark County.

State Senator Chris Widener, says renaming a portion of I-70 for the officer is a way to honor her sacrifice.

Widener: This portion of I-70 was certainly worthy of naming in honor of Deputy Hopper. It's the least we can do, you know, it's a significant bill that honors quite a number of members of military and law enforcement that were killed in the line of duty.

The man who shot and killed officer Hopper is being treated for mental health issues. Widener says that as a result of Hopper's death he is also working on legislation with mental health advocates and law enforcers statewide that would identify ways that people with mental health issues are entered into LEADS, the state Law Enforcement Database System.

Widener: He was not entered in the LEADS system, which is what law enforcement relies [sic], and what first responders rely on terms of trying to assess certain situations. I'm not saying that would have saved Deputy Hopper's life but it's certainly something her family asked us to work on.

The Deputy Suzanne Hopper Memorial Highway will be located along Interstate 70 between Interstate 675 and Enon Road.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.