‘A gentle giant’: Euclid Officer Jacob Derbin remembered

(WJW) – “A true hero” was remembered Saturday as family, loved ones and police said goodbye to Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin with a funeral mass and burial.

Killed in the line of duty

The 23-year-old officer was killed Saturday, May 11, when responding to a call at a home in the 300 block of East 211^th Street just before 10 p.m.

WATCH: Police memorial remembers ‘fallen heroes’

Police say a gunman ambushed the young officer. Derbin died at the hospital.

He was a first-year officer with Euclid police.

Hometown hero

The Cuyahoga Heights High graduate served a tour of duty in the Middle East before graduating from Kent State University Police Academy.

“My Jakey was an incredible, special and unique young man. He protected his family, his country, and his community. He is my hero. He had his whole life ahead of him. We were all looking forward to watching him marry his soul mate in July,” his mother, Dawn Derbin, told the FOX 8 I-Team.

Jacob’s obituary describes the young man as kindhearted and selfless:

Cleveland Clinic to pay $7.6M to settle fraud case

“He had an enormous smile that always lit up a room. Jacob enjoyed spending time with his Fiancé, Liv, getting late-night snacks, watching movies, and talking about the future. He enjoyed hanging out with his family whether it be on an outing or drinking by the fire. He was always the loudest one in a room, trying to make everyone smile. To know Jacob was like having another family member in your life.”

Officer Derbin’s casket was carried into the church just before 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

“This is a heavy loss. And while we have a full church today, we need to be there for Jacob’s family in the weeks and months to come,” the priest said as services got underway Saturday.

“Jacob was a good man,” the priest noted.

“Who Jacob was – was a testament to his own family and how he was raised,” he added.

“He was never embarassed. He would dance and sing in public,” the priest said about Jacob.

Jacob’s fiancé, Liv, spoke at the funeral.

“He was so excited to go to work every day, he would leave an hour and a half early for his shift,” she shared.

She read a letter at the service that she had written to Jacob as part of their Catholic wedding preparation.

“To my best friend: Our life was like a fairy tale kids read about. I was the cheerleader who fell in love with the football player,” Liv said.

“You made me feel like I could do anything with your love and support,” she read. “Thank you for meeting my insecurities with kindness.”

Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer also spoke at the funeral.

“There is no doubt that his actions saved the lives of four individuals,” he said.

Chief Meyer said Jacob would posthumously receive the department’s highest honor, the Euclid Police Department’s Medal of Honor.

Family and mourners left the church shortly after 1 p.m. to lead the procession to the gravesite.

Officers lined the streets along with residents to show their support for Officer Derbin’s family.

Officer Derbin’s family arrived at the gravesite at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Cuyahoga Heights just before 2 p.m.

Following a 21-gun salute, Officer Derbin’s last radio call went out around 3 p.m.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags to fly at half-staff until sunset Saturday.

Officer Jacob Derbin, End of Watch, May 11, 2024.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.