George Murray Lodge #67
Fallen Heroes

Marshal John Vapenik
END OF WATCH: August 28, 1920
Maple Heights Police Department

Marshal John Vapenik age 41 was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle as he patrolled Libby Road for whiskey runners.

As he rounded a curve on the road his motorcycle was struck from behind by a car that was following him. He was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered a broken neck.

The driver of the vehicle that struck him was charged with manslaughter.

Marshal Otto Jirecek
END OF WATCH: March 31, 1939
Solon Police Department

On March 31, 1939 at 3:20 am, Marshal Otto Jirecek age 41 of the Solon Police Department, burned to death in his police car.

At 11:00 p.m., Marshal Jirecek and Deputy Charles Linert came on duty. Marshal Jirecek being on call for twenty-four hours stopped the car to get into the back seat. Deputy Linert slid over to relieve Jirecek and started to pull the door shut when their vehicle was fiercely struck from behind. The police car spun, overturned and the gasoline tank exploded, immediately engulfing the vehicle in flames. Linert managed to scramble out of the car before it flipped, escaping with a bloody nose and a wrenched back. He stated, “I tried to get back to the car and pull Otto out, but I could not even get close. The heat was enough to scorch you ten feet away.”

The driver of the other car was stunned and his car was badly wrecked. He traveled thirty-five feet before stopping in the middle of Aurora Road near a golf course. After questioning the driver, County Detective Brown estimated his speed was fifty miles per hour. The driver was charged with manslaughter and held for Grand Jury action by Mayor Carter.

Patrolman Garner M. Robertson
END OF WATCH: July 8,1956
Valley View Police Department

 The murder of Officer Robertson age 45 begins with a strange and unusual account of a series of connected incidents.

On Saturday July 5 1956, ex-convict, Norman Walker began his Saturday night of terror by hunting for a divorcee who previously dated him. When he found her in a Bedford bar with another man, he walked up to the table, smashed a glass, said “Good luck”, and left. When the woman returned home, she found Walker threatening her daughter with a shotgun.

To free her daughter, the woman responded to his demands and got into his car. They drove about aimlessly, Walker occasionally threatening her with a knife. Finally, Walker parked on Brookside Road in Independence.

In the meantime, Independence Police investigating a holdup of the local Howard Johnson’s restaurant left for Cleveland to check on two suspects. As was customary, Valley View police covered the village for Independence police when necessary.

Patrolmen Robertson and partner Patrolmen Gabram shifted into Independence. While on Brookside Road, they observed a parked car (Walker’s) and stopped. Officer Robertson walked toward the car and without warning, was cut down by a 12ga shotgun blast. Gabram radioed for help and then emptied his revolver into Walker’s car.

When Bedford police arrived for back-up, police ordered occupants to surrender. A frightened woman emerged stating, “I saw him aim the gun, but I couldn’t see who he was shooting at because I was on the floor.” Police fired fourteen rounds into the car before rushing it, finding it empty.

In one of the most intensive manhunts in Cuyahoga County history, Police from 20 suburbs along with a 200 man posse beat the brush and set up roadblocks in a five mile area. Walker was arrested by Seven Hills officers concluding 7 1/2 hour search. Walker surrendered meekly with the shotgun and shotgun shells and a hunting knife in his pockets.

In 1956 under Ohio Law, killing a policeman in the performance of his duty was 1 degree murder. Norman Walker was executed in the Ohio electric chair.

 Captain Edward H. Perdian
END OF WATCH: September 15, 1960
Newburgh Police Department

On February 25, 1958, Captain Edward H. Perdian of the Newburgh Heights Police Department stopped a traffic violator on the Willow Freeway (now I-77) in the City of Cleveland which bordered the Village of Newburgh Heights. While seated in his police car parked on the shoulder of the freeway behind the violator’s vehicle, an intoxicated eighteen-year-old driver veered off the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of Perdian’s vehicle.

The violent impact of the collision demolished the cruiser and threw Captain Perdian against the steering wheel, causing severe head, chest and spinal injuries. Captain Perdian was taken by ambulance to St. Alexis Hospital for emergency treatment. A lengthy hospital stay resulted, and he was eventually transferred to Lutheran Hospital for long-term treatment and rehabilitation. He was in and out of the hospital for 15 months, never fully recovering from his injuries.

On September 15, 1960, Captain Perdian died at Lutheran Hospital. His death was caused by a blood clot to his heart attributed to the severe injuries sustained in the on-duty collision.

The eighteen-year-old driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated, charged, convicted and was fined for his offenses, which he subsequently paid. Captain Perdian paid a much higher price.

Captain Perdian’s sacrifice was nearly forgotten. In June of 2000, Edward M. Perdian contracted the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society informing us about his father’s story. With assistance from Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth K. Balraj, MD, it was confirmed Captain Perdian’s death was a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Detective Sergeant William A. Prochazka
END OF WATCH:  November 10, 1975
Bedford Heights Police Department

Sergeant William A. Prochazka age 41 was shot and killed about 1:30 p.m. when he surprised three men attempting to rob the Blonder Company store across from Southgate Shopping Center.

Officer Prochazka and his partner, Detective James Toth, were cruising near the Center, when Prochazka advised he needed drop by Blonders to show employees mug shots of known robbers. About five weeks earlier, several men tried to rob the store and Prochazka hoped employees could make a photo identification.

Officers were unaware three men armed with three pistols and a shotgun entered Blonders moments earlier, ordering the six employees and five customers into a rear washroom hidden from view by a folding, leather door.

Officer Prochazka entered, and, seeing no one, walked to the rear and opened the leather door. One of the men shot him in the neck without warning and all three men ran out the rear door. Officer Toth heard the shot and ran in to find the Sergeant on the floor, unconscious.

Suspect descriptions were obtained from witnesses as well as vehicle and license plate number. A massive manhunt for the gunmen was launched by all southeastern suburbs and the Cleveland Police.

Before 3:00 pm, Cleveland police arrested the three suspects at East 131st Street and Southview Avenue. Two pistols were found but no shotgun.

Coroner, Dr. Samuel Gerber, advised Sergeant Prochazka died from the gunshot wound.

William Prochazka’s name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall, Washington, D.C. panel 15, west wall, line 1.

Patrolman Hubert (Bert) S. Smykowski
END OF WATCH:  October 5, 1976
Garfield Heights Police Department

Hubert Smykowski, Sr. age 45 was a police officer in Garfield Heights until he died in action on October 5, 1976. “Bert,” as everyone called him, was appointed to the Garfield Heights Police Department on July 16, 1962.

At 6:00 am, Smykowski and other officers were responding to a hit-skip accident involving a car that had crashed into a house on East Boulevard.  Upon arriving at the scene, Patrolman Smykowski was advised by witnesses that the two men involved in the accident had fled on foot toward the Miles Avenue area in Cleveland.

Patrolman Smykowski and two other officers began a search of the area for the suspects.   The officers located the suspects at which time a short foot pursuit ensued with one of the suspects running onto the front porch of  a home on E. 126th and Miles.  The suspect jumped through a picture window of the home with Patrolman Smykowski and other officers in pursuit.  The suspect hiding in a closet and struggled with the officers before being handcuffed.  While walking the suspect to the police car Patrolman Smykowski collapsed.  Patrolman Smykowski was rushed to Marymount Hospital where at 6:42 am, he died as a result of a massive heart attack.

The second suspect was arrested a short time later that day on East 128th Street.

Patrolman Jeffrey B. Olson
END OF WATCH:  March 15, 1989
Solon Police Department

On that tragic date, Patrolman Olson age 36 was on basic patrol.  Another Solon Officer, Patrolman Chris Viland, observed a vehicle driving recklessly at a high rate of speed on Aurora Rd. in the business district.  Patrolman Viland attempted to catch up to the violator as it went eastbound on Aurora Road out of the business district.  Patrolman Olson was traveling westbound on Aurora Road and was not aware that Patrolman Viland was attempting to overtake the suspect vehicle.  Evidently, Patrolman Olson picked up the suspect vehicle on his radar.  As the suspect vehicle sped past him eastbound, Ptl. Olson started to make a u-turn to pursue it.  Patrolman Viland’s cruiser then struck Patrolman Olson’s cruiser in the passenger door.

The suspect vehicle continued eastbound on Aurora Road.  The driver of the suspect vehicle never came forward and was never identified.  Both officers were transported to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Solon.  Patrolman Olson’s injuries were fatal.  He suffered massive closed chest trauma from the crash.  Patrolman Viland was life-flighted to another medical facility and ultimately recovered from his injuries.

Sergeant Dennis N. Glivar
END OF WATCH: August 14, 1994
Garfield Heights Police Department

August 14th, 1994, will be forever remembered as one of the most tragic and traumatic dates in the history of the Garfield Heights Police Department. Sgt. Dennis Glivar age 40 a 17 year veteran of the Police Department, was fatally wounded in a hail of gunfire after being ambushed by a cowardly assassin.

Sgt. Glivar will always be remembered by his wife Debbie as a loving husband who was always at her side. They were inseparable mates who did everything and went everywhere together. Sgt. Glivar was the strong and silent type; who never boasted about his mastery of the martial arts or the Gold Medal recently awarded for weightlifting in a local police tournament. He was a well respected supervisor who always treated his subordinates fairly and led them by example.

On that fateful day in August, Sgt. Glivar and his partner Lt. Kaiser, responded to the call of a male firing a weapon in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the City of Garfield Heights. While en-route to the call, they were further advised a male had been shot at that location and Ptl. Cermak, was under fire from the suspect.

Upon arrival, Sgt. Glivar and Lt. Kaiser were told the suspect fled around the rear of the apartment building after he fired at Ptl. Cermak. Bystanders also stated the suspect shot a man who was now in one of the second floor apartments.

Sgt. Glivar and Lt. Kaiser cautiously entered the apartment building and found the gunshot victim in one of the second floor apartments. Knowing the victim was in need of medical treatment, Sgt. Glivar and Lt. Kaiser retreated back down the apartment stairway in order to safely escort the medical personnel to the victim. Unfortunately, Sgt. Glivar and Lt. Kaiser were unaware the suspect resided in the apartment directly at the bottom of the stairs.

When Sgt. Glivar and Lt. Kaiser reached the first floor landing, the suspect, Harry Mitts, flung open his apartment door and fired a shower of bullets at the two officers. Harry Mitts fired a 44 magnum revolver with his right hand and a 9 mm pistol with his left. Sgt. Glivar was shot 7 times in his torso, and, as testament to his strength and fortitude, he still managed to stumble down the hall where he collapsed and died at the rear door.

Lt. Kaiser was shot in the chest and the right hand and managed to return fire and shoot Harry Mitts twice in the hip and the foot. Despite his wounds, Harry Mitts continued to hold the police at bay for the next five hours and was eventually taken into custody by the S.W.A.T. team.

On Thursday, August 18, 1994, funeral services were held at St. Leo the Great Church, and Sgt. Glivar was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery. Thousands of police officers from the local area and as far away as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attended this solemn affair.

On October 19, 1994, Sgt. Glivar was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor in a ceremony honoring him and other fellow officers for their courage and commitment to duty. Sgt. Glivar’s wife Debbie was presented with these awards along with a plaque and proclamation honoring, her husband.

On November 17, 1994, Harry Mitts received the death penalty and was sentenced to die in the electric chair on August 14, 1995.

Patrolman Michael W. Brown
END OF WATCH: December 8, 1994
Garfield Heights Police Department

On this tragic date, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Patrolman Mike Brown age 26, and Patrolman Bob Stefanov, observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of McCracken and Broadway Roads. As they went to investigate, the vehicle sped off. They attempted to stop the vehicle by activating their emergency lights and siren. The vehicle continued pulling away from them. They radioed in the license plate of the vehicle and were advised that the owner was wanted on a traffic warrant. They continued to pursue the vehicle, and at the intersection of Lee and Harvard Roads, another vehicle crossed their path. They attempted to swerve around the vehicle
but struck the front of it. The police car then went out of control, striking two utility poles and causing fatal injuries to both officers.

Patrolman Robert A. Stefanov
END OF WATCH: December 8, 1994
Garfield Heights Police Department

On this tragic date at approximately 3:00 a.m., Patrolman Bob Stefanov age 30, andPatrolman Mike Brown, observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of McCracken and Broadway Roads. As they went to investigate, the vehicle sped off. They attempted to stop the vehicle by activating their emergency lights and siren. The vehicle continued pulling away from them. They radioed in the license plate of the vehicle and were advised that the owner was wanted on a traffic warrant. They continued to pursue the vehicle, and at the intersection of Lee and Harvard Roads, another vehicle crossed their path. They attempted to swerve around the vehicle
but struck the front of it. The police car then went out of control, striking two utility poles and causing fatal injuries to both officers.