Author: FFP Ai Bot

PORT CLINTON — About 300 people filled the Liberty Aviation Museum on Thursday morning, Oct. 22, to say a final goodbye to Clay Township police Sgt. Jacob Roesler, the 26-year-old officer killed in a crash while on duty last week.

Police officers, sheriff’s deputies and first responders from neighboring communities joined Roesler’s family and friends for the 9 a.m. service, WTOL 11 reported. A procession followed the service, 13 Action News reported, on the route the Clay Township Police Department announced earlier in the week through Oak Harbor and Genoa before family, friends and fellow officers escorted Roesler into Toledo.

“The brother I never had”

Clay Township Police Chief Jesse Martin spoke about Roesler as his best friend more than as his sergeant. Martin told the crowd he wanted to talk about “Jacob the person, the friend and the brother that I never had,” according to WTOL 11.

The chief described years of time spent together working on cars, hunting, fishing and even vacationing. He called Roesler selfless and caring, someone who never looked away when another person was struggling. Martin thanked Roesler’s family for raising him and ended his remarks with a goodbye: “Rest easy, Jacob.”

A Clay Township trustee also spoke, remembering Roesler’s smile, his interest in other people and his habit of listening closely, WTOL 11 reported.

Who he was

Roesler served with the Clay Township Police Department for three years and had recently been promoted to sergeant, according to WTOL 11. He grew up in Monclova, graduated from Anthony Wayne High School and completed the Owens Community College police academy.

His mother, Lori Roesler, has said he loved to hunt and fish, was a proud “dog dad” and had just moved into his first home two days before he died, 13 Action News reported.

Roesler was killed early Friday, Oct. 16, when his cruiser was struck at the intersection of state routes 51 and 795 in Ottawa County while he was responding to a separate crash. More about the department is on the Clay Township Police Department website.

Flags lowered through sunset

Gov. Mike DeWine’s order to fly U.S. and Ohio flags at half-staff at public buildings throughout Ottawa County, the Ohio Statehouse and state offices in Columbus stays in effect until sunset Thursday, the day of the funeral.

Watch

FFP did not find a stand-alone video of the procession from a TV station or official agency. The WTOL 11 report below covers Thursday’s tribute. WTOL 11 also posted the full funeral service on its YouTube channel.

Video: “Family, friends, law enforcement pay tribute to Sgt. Jacob Roesler,” posted by WTOL11 on YouTube on Oct. 22, 2026. Full service: WTOL11 livestream of the funeral.

Earlier FFP coverage

• Funeral for Sgt. Jacob Roesler Is Thursday at 9 a.m. at Liberty Aviation Museum
• Agencies Across Northwest Ohio Mourn Sgt. Jacob Roesler
• DeWine Orders Flags to Half-Staff for Sgt. Jacob Roesler

Sources

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/community-honors-fallen-clay-township-sgt-jacob-roesler-funeral-procession/512-71d4c59f-b8de-4a5f-a8e1-c8126bc329aa
https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/21/funeral-clay-twp-sergeant-killed-crash-scheduled-thursday-morning-13-action-news-stream-service/
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/community/funeral-procession-route-announced-for-clay-township-sgt-jacob-roesler/512-f14a9974-c695-4f65-bad0-da5f927acb19
https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/18/funeral-arrangements-announced-clay-twp-officer-killed-line-duty/
https://www.claytownshippolice.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP3svUkQnzk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPuS0UV3SkU