Again I have a heavy heart and have to report a second Police Officer this week IS ADDED TO END OF WATCH.
ELYRIA — An Elyria police officer is dead after a man shot him on 18th Street Monday night. Officer James Kerstetter was responding to the neighborhood for a 911 call from a woman who said a neighbor exposed himself to her child and kicked in a window.
The suspect has also been fatally shot. Police identify him as Ronald Palmer.
Police Chief Duane Whitely says Kerstetter came into contact with Palmer when he entered the home on 18th St. Palmer than shot Kerstetter. Kerstetter radioed for back-up and reported that he had been shot.
When Palmer left the house back-up Elyria officers confronted, shot and killed the suspect.
Chief Whitely says other officers tried to treat the wounded patrolman, who was taken to EMH Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead.
Chief Whitely says Kerstetter was on the force 15 years, hired in September of 1994. While servicing on the Elyria Police Department, Kerstetter served as an accident investigator, field training officer and member of the departments special response team. Prior to that Kerstetter was a Lorain County sheriff’s deputy before that.
The investigation has been turned over to the Lorain County Sheriff’s office. A sheriff’s deputy said that she could not give any information on the case.
Kerstetter is the son of retired Elyria Township Fire Chief James Kerstetter. He is survived by his wife Tammy and three daughters, Misty, 17, Shelby, 14, and Brittany, 8.
A fund will be set up at First Merit Bank in the name of James A. Kerstetter. Donations can be made at any First Merit Bank branch.
OFFICER KERSTETTER,THANK YOU FOR SERVICE,REST IN PEACE