Morrow County deputy killed on Memorial Day dreamed of becoming a policeman

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13 hours ago

When Daniel 'Weston' Sherrer was 6 years old, his teacher gave his class an assignment asking them to describe what they wanted to do when they grew up.
He wrote that he wanted to be a police officer.
'My big dream is to be a policeman,' Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost read from the assignment written by the young Sherrer. 'I want to catch the villains, and I'm willing to risk my life to protect the people of the United States.'
Sherrer, a Morrow County Sheriff's deputy killed in the line of duty in a shooting on Memorial Day, did just that, friends, family and state officials said at his June 4 memorial at a packed gymnasium at Northmor High School in Galion. The public memorial came one day after friends and family held a public visitation for Sherrer at the school.
He died responding to a report of gunshots that evening on the 100 block of County Road 26 at County Road 15, south of Marengo. Brian Michael Wilson, 53, has been charged with aggravated murder in Sherrer's death. He remains in the Delaware County Jail on a $5 million bond.
Former Morrow County Sheriff Pastor Steve Brenneman described Sherrer as a precocious, confident child born in Florence, Kentucky. He was always asking questions and 'would've made a good lawyer," Brenneman said. He wrestled, played soccer, and rugby.
And he loved his mom and dad, Brenneman said.
Once, young Sherrer's phone went off in class, and he was sent to the office and disciplined. Sherrer called his mother to let her know. 'I love you,' he concluded the call. The office staff were surprised, Brenneman said.
Sherrer's mother was the one who had called, causing his phone to ring.
Sherrer was one of eight officers in his police academy class, postponed briefly for the COVID-19 pandemic, his classmate, Franklin County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Brewer, said.
He described his friend as cool, calm, collected, and confident—a man who left a mark on those in his class.
'He was more than a friend,' Brewer said. 'He became our brother, and this brotherhood allowed us to spread our wings and pursue our own careers … knowing that after this graduation ceremony and into our lives, it would be as if no time had passed. We could pick up from a sentence left before."
Brenneman said Sherrer "came into his own" when he joined the police academy. He compared him to "Daniel in the lion's den," saying he was as brave and faithful as that biblical figure.
When Sherrer died, three Morrow County Jail inmates called home crying to share the news, Brenneman said.
"How many law enforcement officers do you know that if they died, inmates in the jail would call home in tears?" Brenneman said.
Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton said Sherrer always had a smile on his face and always put others first. He addressed other Morrow County deputies, saying he was proud of their strength and that the force would continue to protect the community.
"You, too, have chosen this special community to protect," he said. "You, too, are among the select few that have chosen to put yourself in harm's way."
Brenneman addressed media and other people who would "take weeks, months, and years to dissect what happened that night," saying Sherrer had "the best training" and had to make a split-second decision that night based on his instincts.
"Get off him," he said to would-be critics.
Yost lauded Sherrer's commitment to public service and to the community where he chose to put on a uniform and serve the people.
"The promise to put himself in harm's way to prevent the harm of others," Yost said. "That's what he was doing on the last day of his life."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine attended the ceremony and made brief remarks to reporters after the ceremony ended. DeWine said he had spoken to Sherrer's family to offer condolences, and though he didn't know Sherrer personally, he seemed to have been a great officer.
'A tragedy like this reminds us we cannot take these men and women for granted at all,' DeWine said. 'We've got to give them all the support that we can give them.'
Hundreds of area law enforcement officers gathered to see Sherrer off. Several police helicopters flew overhead as his casket was loaded into the hearse.
Brewer addressed the officers, deputies and state troopers with a message he said Sherrer would've shared. He advised them to take a moment each morning to look in the mirror and remember the people who are grateful to them.
"Weston would've said, 'You are strong, and I appreciate you,'" Brewer said. "'Be vigilant and purposeful.'"
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio sheriff's deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer remembered at memorial