On February 10, 2017, the late Officer Michael Blankenship of The Ohio State University Police Division was honored moments before the puck dropped at the Ohio State men’s hockey game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The date marked the 20-year anniversary of Blankenship’s death. Blankenship was killed in 1997 in the line of duty, while responding to a suspicious person call. View video of the tribute to Officer Blankenship.
The Ohio State University Police Division partnered with The Ohio State University Department of Athletics and Schottenstein Center staff to create a memorial ceremony. Several members of Blankenship’s family, including his two daughters Dianne Ratliff and Jennifer Rowe, along with their mother Kris Blankenship and aunt Kay Meyer, took the ice for a moment of silence. Four OSUPD officers joined the family to honor one of their own. Blankenship remains the first and only member of the OSUPD to be killed in the line of duty.
View picture slideshow from the Blankenship Tribute Event
Video The Lantern's print and video stories honoring Blankenship