Outdoors: Officer lost his life trying to help save others
Mar. 2—HILLSBORO, Ohio — The hero tag is tossed around pretty liberally at times, but some people earn it without receiving a formal christening from the national media or being able to accept a medal or a plaque at a ceremony recognizing their exceptional actions.
Possibly you have heard the name Jason Lagore, but more than likely you have not.
That is a shame because you would have a tough time finding an individual more deserving of the honor of being called a hero. When you give your life in an effort to save the lives of others, that seems to exemplify what it means to be courageous, lion-hearted, and a champion when the circumstances require just such a person.
Lagore was a natural resource officer with the Division of State Parks & Watercraft and a week ago he responded to an evening emergency call that two teenagers had fallen through the ice at southwestern Ohio's Rocky Fork State Park near here.
At the scene, a channel where a creek feeds into the main lake, a 13-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister had apparently walked out on the ice and plunged into the 36-degree water.
A worker nearby heard their cries for help and called 911. Responding to that distress call, officer Lagore arrived and attempted to rescue the pair. At some point, according to local sources, he suffered an apparent heart attack and fell into the icy water. Other first-responders at the scene pulled Lagore from the lake and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
During the chaotic moments on the ice, the young boy managed to get out of the water and was treated for hypothermia. Sadly, his sister became submerged under the ice in about 10 feet of water and she was not recovered by divers until about four hours later. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The deaths of officer Lagore and the young girl remain under investigation by the Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Lagore had been with ODNR for 15 years and was the architect of the department's first canine training academy.
ODNR Director Mary Mertz extended the agency's sympathies to the family and loved ones of officer Lagore. Although it is rare for the ODNR to lose an officer in the line of duty, she acknowledged the risks they take on a daily basis.
"Our law enforcement officers and their families carry a unique and challenging burden of responsibilities, and we are deeply grateful for their service," Mertz said.
Lt. Travis Martin of the ODNR said Lagore had a love for the outdoors at his foundation and that Lagore had known early in life that he wanted to find a career path in some role related to natural resources. Martin said Lagore brought his passion for the job with him every day.
"There's a lot to say about Jason Lagore because he was one of those officers who was always asking: how can I help," Martin said. "The people he worked with, the people he came in contact with out in the field — they will miss his smile and his commitment to his job. He had a love for his family, a love for the outdoors, and a love for those canines he worked with."
Martin said Lagore was not only instrumental in the ODNR's K-9 program but was also the person numerous other entities relied on for his skill and expertise working with the four-legged partners. Lagore coordinated the K-9 training program for the Division of Parks and Watercraft where the canines are trained to pick up scents over the water.
"He was known by dozens of law enforcement agencies both in Ohio and across state lines for his knowledge and ability to work with the K-9 partners," Martin said. "He was called on to work with the dogs on cadaver searches, human remains searches, and other specialized work. The way he connected with the canines was phenomenal."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had ordered that the flags at the statehouse and at public buildings throughout Highland County be flown at half staff until sunset on Wednesday in honor of officer Lagore.
Ohio Attorney General David Yost cited Lagore's dedication to his service to the public, even in very dangerous circumstances. "Officer Lagore acted with extreme courage to go to the rescue of these two kids; his example demonstrates the very highest valor," Yost said.
The funeral for Lagore, who is survived by his wife Michelle, their two young sons, and his K-9 partner, Sarge, will be held Wednesday at the Bible Baptist Church in Wilmington. Jason Lagore was 36-years-old.
