Mentor community mourns loss of fallen police officer Mathew Mazany

Mentor Police Chief Kevin Knight was supposed to be on vacation this week, visiting family. That was until he got the early morning phone call June 24 about the death of one of his officers.

He said he sat on the edge of his bed for about 20 minutes, stunned at the news: Veteran Patrolman Mathew Mazany had been killed in a hit-and-run collision. He was the city’s first officer to die in the line of duty since 1927.

“It’s a blur,” Knight said. “People ask me how I’m doing. My response is, I don’t know. I really don’t have words to describe that. … It has an effect on everybody. I think it affects the community as well.”

That is clear from the outpouring of support coming in from around the area, from the growing memorial at Mentor Police Department to local businesses posting signs of solidarity.

“We are very proud of and grateful to Mat Mazany for what he gave to this community,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said at a news conference June 25. “Officer Mazany has served the Mentor Police Department with distinction for over 14 years and is the recipient or the department’s Exceptional Service Award. Over the years, he has consistently received letters from grateful residents on how he handled interaction with them with professionalism and compassion.”

Mazany was born in Maple Heights, where his father served as a police officer tor 34 years. It was his life ambition to become a police officer, Filipiak said.

Knight described Mazany as a happy-go-lucky person who loved the midnight shift and enjoyed cigars after work. He was divorced but still close with his family, the chief said.

Some local police departments’ Facebook pages reflected their response to the tragedy, with profile photos becoming badges with a black band across them.

“The job of a police officer is inherently laden with risk,” Filipiak said. “Yet these brave men and women accept that risk in service to their communities and the people they are sworn to protect. Despite this knowledge, we find ourselves shocked and heartbroken when a life is lost as a result of that service. … Patrolman Mat Mazany remains in our hearts, and he and his family will forever be a part of our Mentor City family, forever a part of his brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and will forever hold a special place among all of us for whom he gave his life in service.”

He asked for prayers for the family and the police department staff. Beacon Health is providing grief counselors at city hall.

Gov. John Kasich issued a proclamation that U.S. flags be flown at half staff in Lake County on all public buildings and grounds from sun up to sun down on the day of internment.

Community members continue to stream to the memorial outside the police department. One of them was Michael Nelson of Fairport Harbor. He placed a card and three small American flags at the site.

“You always hear about police officers making mistakes, being criticized,” he said. “You never hear about the police officers that risk their lives and do good to the community. I hope people realize that there are far more, greater police officers than the few who make bad judgments.”

The city is asking residents to visit the memorial at the police department instead of pulling over on Route 2 near Route 306, where Mazany was fatally struck.

Any memorial services planned and open to the public will be announced, Filipiak said.

A memorial fund for his surviving family members has been set up through GoFundMe at gofundme.com/officer-mathew-mazany-memorial-fund. The city is also working with a local bank to set up a fund.