Governor DeWine signs 'Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway' Bill into Law

Governor DeWine signs ‘Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway’ Bill Signed into LCOLUMBUS – State Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) announces that Governor DeWine has signed House Bill 251 and will now become law.  Last month, the General Assembly approved the bill designating a portion of State Route 88 in Portage County as the "Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway."

"I am grateful to the Governor for signing this into law and appreciate the help and support of the Wert family and the Ravenna Police Department,” said Pavliga. “It has been almost 43 years since Patrolman James Wert was killed in the line of duty while serving his community. Now his memory will be remembered forever.”

Around Midnight on January 31, 1981, Patrolman Wert stopped a suspected drunk driver. After proceeding with the arrest, James proceeded to State Route 88; he pulled off to adjust the arrested party's handcuffs. A struggle ensued, and additional Ravenna police officers arrived to assist Wert. At the time, a second drunk driver went left of center of SR 88 and struck James Wert. Officer Wert was only 25 when he was killed in the line of duty.

Wert was appointed to the Ravenna Police Department on February 1, 1980, after serving in the U.S. Army, where he earned the Army Good Conduct Medal and was an expert marksman at Ft Hood.

After James was honorably discharged from the Army, he moved back to Ravena and became a police officer to be close to his family and serve the area where he grew up.

House Bill 251 passed with bipartisan support in both chambers before being signed by the Governor.