TOLEDO, Ohio — Funeral arrangements will be announced on Tuesday for the Bluffton police officer who was killed early Thursday morning while attempting to stop a vehicle fleeing police on I-75.
Bluffton police announced on their Facebook page that although a specific time and location has yet to be determined, the funeral will take place on Friday, April 8.
Officer Dominic Francis was attempting to place stop strips on the interstate when he was struck and killed by the suspect vehicle shortly before 3 a.m., Sgt. Brice Nihiser of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said during a news conference this morning.
Two of the three suspects believed to be in the vehicle that struck the officer were arrested Thursday morning. A third suspect was arrested in the afternoon.
Condolences from around the state came pouring in on Thursday:
OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
TOLEDO POLICE
OHIO GOV. MIKE DEWINE
OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST
“A hero has died and a community is shaken. The bravery of the men and women that wear the badge is astounding. Officer Francis’ valor will live on and never be forgotten.
My deepest condolences are with Officer Francis’ loved ones and the residents of Bluffton.”
OHIO STATE REP. HARAZ GHANBARI (R-PERRYSBURG)
BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY
U.S. REP. TIM RYAN (D-Niles), CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE
CITY OF PERRYSBURG
TOLEDO POLICE CHIEF GEORGE KRAL
HANCOCK COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
"It is with great sorrow that today we report the passing of Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire Department Captain Dominic Francis and offer our sincere condolences to the Francis family. Dominic answered his final alarm this morning (March 31, 2022) working as Officer Francis with the Bluffton Police Department and was killed in the line of duty.
"Captain Francis was very active having worked for the Hancock County Sheriff's Office for many years as a dispatcher and as a reserve deputy sheriff. Prior to joining the Bluffton Police Department he was with the Findlay Police Department. Captain Francis was also with the Jenera and Mount Cory Fire Departments which became Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire Department.
"Please keep the Francis family in your thoughts and prayers along with all of his brothers in red and blue. Rest in peach brother and we'll take if from here."
U.S. ATTORNEY MICHELLE BAEPPLER