New foundation dedicated to the legacy of Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter

CLEVELAND — It’s been nearly a month since Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter was killed in the line of duty, and now friends, family and police officers are vowing to carry on his legacy.

The outside of the Cleveland Police Third District headquarters is still decorated with blue ribbons.

“It hits hard, it really does,” said Third District Supervisor Robert Tucker.

The outer ribbons are a memorial to an officer who the people in the building will find hard to forget.

“Jamieson was an exceptional officer, but as a person he was an even better one,” Tucker said.

Tucker said Ritter always had a positive attitude and led by example.

“We will keep his spirit alive here by being better police officers and better people,” he added.

The 27-year-old officer was shot early in the morning of July 4.

“When people hear that a police officer has been killed, to them it’s not a police officer, it’s their friend. That’s very hard for them because first and foremost it’s a friend who was murdered, who happened to be a police officer,” Tucker said.

The young officer from western New York State spent his short life in service, serving our country and his community. Friends said his ministry began in high school at McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, New York.

There, Jamieson Ritter and Jack Schwab became best friends.

“Jamieson knew from a very young age that serving causes bigger than himself would be fulfilling,” Schwab said.

Schwab described Ritter as smart, intelligent and charismatic. He loved his family, his friends and his country.

Now those who knew him best have founded the Jamieson Ritter Foundation.

“We’re excited to make this something that points to the future, rather than just keeping the whole of last month between us,” Schwab said.

The newly established foundation hopes to provide a $10,000 scholarship to a college-bound 12th-grader at McQuaid Jesuit High School – a student who Schwab said embodies the qualities Jamieson Ritter demonstrates on a daily basis.

“The current goal of the foundation is to hopefully receive regular donations from donors who wish to contribute to this foundation over time,” he explained.

You can donate to the newly established foundation CLICK HERE.

The man accused of killing Ritter, Delawnte Hardy, remains in jail. A Cuyahoga County District Court judge ruled in favor of a request by Cuyahoga County prosecutors to revoke his bail. Hardy is also accused of killing his grandmother just days before Ritter’s murder.

RELATED: De’Lawnte Hardy is charged with the murder of his grandmother and Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter