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A year removed, a shaken city stands

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July 12, 2009
The Joshua T. Miktarian Memorial will honor the fallen officer and his family, including daughter Thea, 1, and his K-9 partner, Bagio. The monument will be dedicated July 13, the first anniversary of his death.
The Joshua T. Miktarian Memorial will honor the fallen officer and his family, including daughter Thea, 1, and his K-9 partner, Bagio. The monument will be dedicated July 13, the first anniversary of his death.

by Emily Canning-Dean

Reporter

Twinsburg -- The footprints of Thea Miktarian have been captured in the cement next to the spot where a monument honoring her late father, Officer Joshua T. Miktarian, will stand.

The footprints, made last month by Miktarian's 1-year-old daughter, are fitting, said Recreation Director Derek Schroeder.

"We want to remember not only Josh, but his family as well," Schroeder said.

The city will conduct candlelight and memorial services July 13 in honor of Miktarian, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop July 13, 2008.

Miktarian is the only officer ever to be killed in the line of duty in the department's 54-year history.

The service will be at the new Officer Joshua T. Miktarian Memorial, at the corner of Ravenna Road and Officer Joshua T. Miktarian Memorial Parkway, across from Government Center. During the service, the city will dedicate the monument and retire his badge, No. 45.

Speakers will include Mayor Katherine Procop, Police Chief Christopher Noga and Holly Miktarian, Josh's widow.

Schroeder said he expects between 300 and 500 people to attend.

"I think we will probably do something each year to remember Josh and his family," Schroeder said.

Those attending should gather at Twinsburg High School, 10084 Ravenna Road, beginning at 8:30 p.m. At 9 p.m., a candlelight procession will transition from the high school to the memorial site, and the service will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring candles.

Parking will be in the student lot at the high school. There will be no parking at Twinsburg Government Center, 10075 Ravenna Road, for the general public, except for those with handicap placards. Law enforcement personnel and media are encouraged to park at Government Center.

The city will close Ravenna Road at Government Center beginning at 8:55 p.m., and traffic will be detoured through the Twinsburg Public Library to the Twinsburg Fitness Center and Twinsburg High School access road, then back to Ravenna Road at Miktarian Parkway. The parkway will remain open during the service, and Ravenna Road will reopen at approximately 10 p.m.

Milano Monuments, TriMor Corp., Medina Supply, Brewster's Café, American Cancer Society and Relay For Life and Twinsburg Township contributed to make the service possible.

E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 317




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