Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ohio
End of Watch Friday, December 9, 1983
Add to My HeroesBruce E. Mettler
Deputy Sheriff Bruce Mettler, Sergeant Robert Rigoni of the Port Clinton Police Department, and Dispatcher Michael Sweeney of the Put-in-Bay Police Department were killed when the plane they were riding in crashed into Lake Erie.
The officers were traveling to assist a police chief on a neighboring island who was suffering a heart attack. All four occupants of the plane were killed in the accident.
Deputy Mettler was a U.S. Army veteran and served with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, a stepson, mother, sister, and brother.
Bio
- Age 37
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
Most Recent Reflection
View all 21 ReflectionsNEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Deputy Sheriff Bruce E. Mettler of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ohio and the additional 62 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.
Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
December 9, 2023
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