END OF WATCH: May 26, 2007
Cleveland Heights Police Department
Age: 31 | Badge# 332
Friday May 25, 2007 at approximately 2146 hours Investigator Jason West age 31, received a radio assignment to respond to a fight in progress on Altamont Avenue. West followed by another cruiser, approached the location from a westerly direction. A third cruiser approached the location from an easterly direction. All officers observed a vehicle that had been traveling in a westbound direction, suddenly reverse its direction of travel and back into a driveway.
Investigator West pulled his cruiser in front of the driveway blocking the suspect’s vehicle. West parked his cruiser with the overhead lights and side spot light activated in the street and left side to the curb. The center point of the area from which West was exiting his cruiser was aligned with the outside of the suspect’s driver’s door.
As West was in the process of exiting his police cruiser the suspect began firing from inside his vehicle. After West had fallen into the street the suspect exited his vehicle, walked over to him, and from a distance of approximately 3 to 5 feet, fired additional rounds into his body. He was rushed to Huron Road Hospital where he died in the early hours of May 26, 2007.
Jason West was born and raised in Avon, Ohio. He attended Avon High School where he played football and baseball. Upon graduation in 1994, he attended Tiffin University, played baseball, majored in Criminal Justice and graduated in 2000.
On May 22, 2000 he was appointed as a Basic Patrol Officer with the Cleveland Heights PD. On April 1, 2002 he was promoted to Patrol Officer and then to Investigator on January 16, 2002. He served in Basic Patrol and Traffic Units. Jason loved riding motorcycles and one of his dreams came true when he was assigned to the Motorcycle Unit.
His fellow officers remember Jason as a man of honor, virtue and courage. He believed that police officers should be positive roll models and his exemplary performance set the best example possible for his peers.
Jason is survived by his mother Georgine, father Thomas, and sister Ann.
Jason Daniel West’s name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Panel 33, west wall, line 26.
By Martin G. Lentz
