Son of northeast Ohio police chief dies in Iraq

Son of northeast Ohio police chief dies in Iraq
UPDATE: 6:49 AM, Friday, September 26, 2008

ELYRIA, Ohio — A soldier whose father is the police chief of a northeast Ohio community has been killed in Iraq, police said Thursday.

Capt. Michael Medders Jr., 26, was the son of Elyria Chief Michael Medders, who has been with the department 32 years.

Police Capt. Dan Jaykel said when and how the soldier died were not yet known.

"It's a tremendous loss," he said. "We here at the Elyria Police Department felt that it was a part of our family that passed away and throughout the community. Michael Medders Jr., to me, was a hero for what he did in Iraq."

Chief Medders said the family would not comment Thursday.

Medders was deployed in October 2007, said Army spokesman Sgt. Martin Maley. He joined the Army in 2003 while attending Bowling Green State University, and was a member of the U.S. Army's 2nd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Hood, Texas.
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