Columbus Blue Jackets and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
held a special Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at Nationwide Arena.
Unfortunately the Blue Jackets lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2, but it was
still a great night for hockey.
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| Ohio State Highway Patrol presenting the colors before the game. |
This is the Blue Jackets first
Law Enforcement Appreciation Night, and was held to honor the service and
sacrifice of Ohio’s law enforcement officers. The night also honored two local
law enforcement officers who have gone beyond the call of duty in serving their
communities: Lieutenant Karl Barth of the Columbus (OH) Division of Police and
Ohio Director of Public Safety (ret.) Thomas Charles.
Lieutenant Barth has been serving
his community as a motorcycle officer since 1960 and has been with the
department longer than anyone else, having served for 54 years. He has managed
the motorcades of every President visiting Columbus since President Kennedy. In
a 2011 article from the Columbus Dispatch,
Lieutenant Barth stated that he has “no plans yet to retire.” You can read the
article here.
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| Lieutenant Barth and Director Charlies wearing their new personalized jerseys. |
Director Charles began his career
as an Ohio State Trooper in 1963, rising through the ranks to Lt. Colonel. He
served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Ohio State Highway Patrol before
he retired from law enforcement. Director Charles then served as State
Inspector for three Ohio governors before he was appointed the Director of
Public Safety in 2011. At his retirement last year, Governor John Kasich said,
“No single Ohioan has done so much to keep Ohioans safe and enforce the law as
Tom Charles.” Director Charles will be honored next week with an addition
of the Ohio State Patrol Academy being named, The Thomas P. Charles Leadership
Wing.
High Patrol presented the honor guard to large and supportive crowd. Lieutenant
Barth and Director Charles were then honored on the arena and were presented
with personalized team jerseys.
State Highway Patrol for supporting the event, along with Columbus Blue
Jacket’s Group Sales Specialist Steve Jix, and Memorial Fund Ambassador Bill
Swank for organizing the event.