Officer Jorge Del Rio had visited Logan County multiple times in support of community law enforcement initiatives
An officer of the Dayton Police Department killed Nov. 4 in the line of duty was well known to local law enforcement, and had visited Logan County several times in conjunction with community safety events conducted at Southview Park.
Law enforcement officers from across the country converged Tuesday in Dayton to honor the memory of Dayton law enforcement officer Jorge Del Rio, who was killed Nov. 4 in the line of duty. (DeGRAFF POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO)
Multiple law enforcement officers, including from Bellefontaine and DeGraff police departments joined thousands of other officers from across the state and country at University of Dayton Arena to pay their final respects Jorge Del Rio, a 30-year law enforcement officer.
Police Chief Brandon Standley said Tuesday in a regular Bellefontaine City Council meeting that Del Rio was a friend to the Bellefontaine Police Department, who “loved to have fun, and always had a smile on his face.”
Del Rio worked as an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration for well over 15 years, and was often called to go undercover out-of-state in places like Chicago to help collect evidence and build drug cases there.
The fallen officer was working a federal drug case in Dayton Nov. 4 when he entered a basement to confront a dangerous drug dealer and was ultimately killed by a gunshot wound.
Kilos of Fentanyl were recovered as part of that drug raid, thanks in part to Del Rio’s sacrifice, Chief Standley said.
Much of the Fentanyl that ends up in Bellefontaine and Logan County is transported from Dayton, Chief Standley said, adding that Officer Del Rio was working to prevent drugs from ending up on local streets.