Father of murdered Euclid officer speaks out for first time: I-Team
And for the first time, his father, a fellow officer, speaks out about loss of his hero, his son.
'It hurts,' said Euclid K-9 Officer Vince Trusso, father of Jacob Derbin. 'It hurts every single day.'
Trusso, opened up to the I-Team, to share his story. Saying it is tough for him to believe his son died a year ago.
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'It seems like last night ,' Trusso said. 'I keep thinking he is going to call.'
Trusso said last year on May 11 he was off work when he got a call from his supervisor.
'I remember asking if he needed me and the dog and he said for me to get to the hospital,' Trusso said. 'That's when my heart sunk.'
Jacob Derbin was shot and killed after he responded to a domestic call. The suspect hiding in the back yard of the victim's home, ambushed Derbin. Derbin was taken to the hospital and died a short time later. The suspect died by suicide the next day.
Trusso worked with his son on the same department for less than a year but says he treasures the moments the two shared. He said a few times the two ended up on the same call and he remembers once searching for a suspect, and his son was behind him, watching his back.
'I never felt so secure. He was just a big wonderful guy, he was just a wonderful person,' Trusso said. 'I don't know if he wanted to follow my footsteps because he had his own way of doing things, but I watched my son in the 10 months with the Euclid Police Department become a man.'
Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said the night the shooting happened, Jacob was more concerned about his fellow officers. He said Jacob yelled out a warning after being shot.
'He is the epitome of a hero,' Meyer said. 'He also returned fire and I believe that his actions and his vocalizations are what led to the safety of the two other officers that were with him.'
Jacob's mother, Dawn, also told us it was her son's dream to become a police officer. She said he always looked up to his grandfather, who also was an officer.
Jacob died just weeks before his wedding day.
Trusso said the past year has been difficult adjusting to life without his son. He added that the love and strength he has received from his fellow officers has helped him return to work.
'Vince is my friend he's also a brother in our lives he's our union brother a police brother ,' said Euclid Detective Steve Shubert. 'We are a family here.'
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Trusso said he wants to make sure Jacob is always remembered.'My life's changed completely, my whole family's life changed completely,' Trusso said. 'I really don't think there is anybody that can say anything bad about him. My hero.'
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