Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Northeast Ohio came together Friday to honor Lorain Police Officer Phillip Wagner, escorting his body from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office in Cleveland to Liston Funeral Home in North Ridgeville.
The solemn motorcade, which temporarily closed roads along the route, traveled west on I-480, then followed Lorain Road, Lear Nagle Road, and Center Ridge Road, concluding at the funeral home near Stoney Ridge Road. Officers lined the streets and intersections as the procession passed, standing at attention to pay their respects.
Wagner, 35, died Thursday at MetroHealth Medical Center after being critically wounded in an ambush that also injured two fellow Lorain officers. A Marine Corps veteran, husband, and father of three, Wagner joined the Lorain Police Department in 2022 after serving with the Sheffield Village Police Department.
“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” Acting Lorain Police Chief Michael Failing said in a statement. “On behalf of the Wagner family, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out in support. Our department mourns the loss of a true hero and stands in unwavering support of Officer Wagner’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this heartbreaking time. We ask the community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as we come together to honor his memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice.”
Funeral arrangements for Wagner have not yet been announced, but officials say additional details will be shared in the coming days. The Lorain community and surrounding region are expected to gather for public memorial services to honor Wagner’s dedication and sacrifice.