Officer Justin A. Leo, 31, of Girard, passed away following an injury sustained in the line of duty, on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Justin was born January 9, 1986, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of David and Patricia (Carson) Leo. Justin was a 2004 graduate of Girard High School and had attended the University of Toledo and Youngstown State University before graduating from the YSU Police Academy in June 2009. Justin worked for the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department and the Vienna Police Department prior to his appointment to the Girard Police Department on July 6, 2012.

He was a member of the Girard High School State Champion Cross Country Team in 2000, the Girard F.O.P. Lodge #52, the Girard Alumni Association, and St. Rose Church. Justin loved golfing with his dad and his old friends from the senior tees. He also umpired for the Girard baseball leagues and coached in the 4-6 youth basketball league. Justin leaves to cherish his memory, his parents of Girard, his Aunt, Denise Mitchell of Girard, his Great Uncle, John (Mimi) Baglier of Canfield, Great Aunts, Edith Paz of Sun City Center, Fl., and Josephine Berezo, of Parkland, Fl. and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter Leo and Jennie Ellen Leo, and John and Lila Carson and his uncle, Donald Leo.

Officer Justin A. Leo ‘324’ Memorial Scholarship in Education

The Officer Justin A. Leo ‘324’ Memorial Scholarship in Education was established in 2018 by David and Patricia Leo, along with family and friends of Girard Police Officer, Justin A. Leo. Justin was a 2017 graduate of Youngstown State University and a 2009 graduate of the YSU Police Academy. He was a member of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, the Vienna Police Department and the city of Girard Police Department. This scholarship will serve as a lasting legacy to honor Justin’s dedication to duty and his selfless nature in serving others. It is awarded to a student enrolled in the Beeghly College of Education.

Link: Officer Justin A. Leo ‘324’ Memorial Scholarship

Officer Down Memorial Page

The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., (ODMP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement officers. More than 24,000 officers have died in the line of duty in the United States since 1776 and ODMP is honored to preserve their memories and give friends, family, other officers, and citizens alike the opportunity to remember the fallen and honor their sacrifices. The ODMP maintains a page dedicated to Officer Justin A. Leo, located via the link below.

Link: ODMP Memorial Page: Officer Justin A. Leo ‘324’

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial honors fallen peace officers by permanently recording and commemorating their service and sacrifice.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is centered in the 400 block of E Street, NW, Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people. The Memorial features two curving, 304-foot-long blue-gray marble walls. Carved on these walls are the names of more than 22,000 officers who died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1786. Unlike many other memorials in Washington, DC, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is ever-changing: new names of fallen officers are added to the monument each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week. Designed by architect Davis Buckley, the Memorial sits on three acres of federal park land in an area of Washington, DC called Judiciary Square, the historic seat of our nation’s judicial branch of government.

The Memorial grounds boast plush carpets of grass, nearly 60,000 plants and 128 trees. Each April, more than 10,000 daffodils bloom at the site, providing a burst of color for visitors. The Memorial’s central plaza features an intricate paving pattern and a bronze medallion with the Memorial Fund logo: a blue shield with a red rose draped across it. Bordering the Memorial’s beautifully landscaped park are the two tree-lined “pathways of remembrance” where the names of the fallen officers are engraved. Each of the pathway entrances is adorned with a powerful statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs. Sculpted by Raymond Kaskey, the bronze statues symbolize the protective role of law enforcement officers and convey the strength, courage and valor that are hallmarks of those who serve and protect. A number of commemorative ceremonies are held at the Memorial each year, and the site is visited by nearly a quarter million people annually.

Officer Justin Leo is remembered on memorial panel 23-W: 31 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Link: NLEO Memorial: Officer Justin A. Leo ‘324’