Officer Comstock remembered, honored by fellow officers
Bellefontaine Police Department officers offered a special tribute Thursday evening during the department’s ninth annual awards night to an officer who is deeply missed and who was pillar of strength, support and dedicated service for the agency and the community.
Craig Comstock, who passed away unexpectedly in his sleep April 10, 2020, received two posthumous awards at the ceremony. His family, including his wife, Michele, and their children, Cole and Carisse, accepted the honors on his behalf — the 2020 Officer of the Year and also a Medal of Merit for his work alongside Detective Dwight Salyer to solve a deadly Thanksgiving Eve shooting in 2019.
The award recognition was met with a standing ovation for Officer Comstock’s work and his memory by officers, their families and other supporters gathered in the sanctuary of the Bellefontaine First Church of God.
Bellefontaine Police Chief Brandon Standley said for Officer of the Year, fellow employees make nominations for the awards and supply background information regarding their selections.
The department received an overwhelming response from employees wanting to nominate Officer Comstock, a 1995 Benjamin Logan High School graduate who served the department for nearly 18 years and worked as a narcotics detective for the last nine years of his tenure. He also was named Officer of the Year in 2013.
“His absence affects our agency in a profound way,” one individual said in their nomination.
“He’s one of the best — Craig taught me everything I know about drug interdiction,” another employee said. “I still find myself trying to call him.”
Chief Standley said as a skilled detective, “The measure of Craig’s work and the number of lives he saved will never be fully known.”
To Cole and Carisse, he related, “What your dad did in a very dangerous world, some day, we’ll sit down and share with you what we do know.
“While working in that difficult field, he would come into work each day and he would have us all laughing until we were crying. His sincerity, his wit and his dedication will forever be missed.
“We want your whole family to know that you are a part of our BPD family.”
Upon accepting the awards, Mrs. Comstock said she has felt supported by the department from the day that her husband passed away.
“Our house was so full that night that I might not be able to tell you everyone who was there, but we could feel the love and care and the depth of concern for our family.
“Now to this today, we are so grateful that you have not forgotten about us,” she said, naming various officers and officers’ family members who have stopped by to help her with various tasks, or have texted her to check in on her and the family.
When presenting the Medals of Merit, the police chief said Detective Salyer and Officer Comstock worked the deadly Thanksgiving Eve shooting that involved a number of hours tracking leads on Thanksgiving Day, including to locations in Champaign and Madison counties. He related the pair’s thoroughness and training came through to solve the case for the two victim’s families.
A Medal of Merit also was presented to Officer Andrew Purk for his actions that lead to the arrest of an 18-year-old Toledo man for a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Officer Perk had first responded to a call regarding a suspicious pickup in a parking lot, and later that evening, observed the vehicle in the area of Union Station, leaving that facility and continuing onto Hamilton Street with its headlights turned off.
Officers soon conducted a traffic stop with that vehicle, and determined the defendant had come to the area to meet up with a 13-year-old girl he had corresponded with on social media. The man was placed under arrest at that time.
In another honor that is awarded based upon peer nominations, the 2020 Dispatcher of the Year was presented to Amanda Henry Metz.
Her fellow employees said that she is “always a step ahead of the officers” and is quick to respond to messages, open doors, “paying close attention to the little things that are helpful.”
“It’s been a tough year for everyone, but she is always there to listen when fellow officers have had a bad day, even if she’s had a hard day as well,” another employee said.
Finally, the American Legion Post 173 presented their annual award to Officer Doug Walters for outstanding public service. Post Commander Tim Shaw thanked all of the officers for their work each day.
“You all put your lives on the line every day, and our words are not enough to thank you for what you do,” he said. “Your community supports you.”
The department also recognized employees for their 2020 years of service achievements: five years — Caleb Mansfield, Jake Siekierka, Andrew Purk, Brad Staley, Tanner Peterson, Michael Morgan; 15 years — Nichole Chambers; 20 years — Scott Marlow, Jason Lapp; 25 years — Angie Hall, Doug Walters, Brandon Standley, Dwight Salyer; and 30 years — Danielle Meek, Richard Herring.