[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1228-S1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



           Honoring Officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I would like to talk today about two

[[Page S1229]]

brave Ohioans who were tragically killed while serving their community 
and all of us.
  On Saturday, February 10, Ohio lost two of its finest when 
Westerville Police Officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering were 
fatally shot responding to a 9-1-1 call. They rushed to the scene. When 
they arrived, they were under fire. Officer Joering was killed at the 
scene. Officer Morelli died in surgery later that day.
  Officer Morelli was a 29-year veteran of the Westerville Police 
Department. He leaves behind his wife Linda, their daughter Beth, and 
son Chris. Officer Joering was a 16-year veteran of the Westerville 
Police Department, where he was a K-9 officer partnered with his dog 
Sam.
  Eric loved working with Sam, but what he really loved were his kids 
and his wife. His most important job, he said, was being a husband and 
a father. He is survived by his wife Jami and his beautiful daughters 
Eva, Elena, and Ella.
  Both men were loved and respected members of the Westerville 
community, and both will be sorely missed. I had a chance to talk to a 
number of their fellow officers, their colleagues, over the weekend and 
heard many stories about them, their bravery, and their commitment to 
service.
  I also had the great honor to meet with the families of both of these 
fallen officers over this past weekend in Columbus, OH. Linda Morelli 
and Jami Joering are incredibly strong women and incredibly strong 
mothers. I expressed my thanks from all Ohioans for their husbands' 
service. I also had a chance to talk to four of the five children about 
their fathers' exemplary service; that they had fallen in service to 
all of us and how much we appreciated them.
  The U.S. Capitol has flags that are flown for special occasions, and 
two flags were flown in honor of the sacrifices these two good men made 
protecting the people of Ohio.
  Throughout this tragic situation, I will say the people of Central 
Ohio and, frankly, across the Nation have stepped up in big ways to 
support and assist these two families. I am encouraged by the kindness 
and generosity we have seen.
  I want to take a moment to just say that these two brave officers, 
Tony Morelli and Eric Joering, were the best. They made the ultimate 
sacrifice for all of us. Today, we hold their families up in prayer.
  (The remarks of Mr. Portman pertaining to the introduction of S. 2456 
are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. PORTMAN. I yield back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.