EUCLID, Ohio — Just days following fallen Euclid Police Office Jacob Derbin’s funeral, people in the community are showing up as the department continues to grieve.
Dozens of activists, groups like Hope Haven, and city leaders from neighboring cities delivered dinner, dessert, coffee, and water to the department Tuesday afternoon.
“We want to show the essential worker [and] the frontline worker they matter and that’s pretty much why we’re here today,” Jeff Brown, community activist and co-host of the John Brown Show with Cocoa Brown tells 3News. “Regardless of if you’re Cleveland police, regardless of if you’re Euclid or wherever you are, you matter.”
Officer Derbin’s death is personal for Yvonne Pointer. Pointer is a community activist who’s no stranger to Cleveland or grief after losing her daughter nearly 40 years ago.
14-year-old pointer, Gloria Pointer, was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in 1984.
“It’s service that saved my life,” says Pointer. “So, you wonder why I’m doing this after 40 years, it’s because it’s my reason to live to serve others.”
Activists showing up took Capt. Mitch Houser and Chief Scott Meyer by surprise.
“This is part of the healing process,” Chief Meyer says. “Particularly [with] our officers, there are times they think [about] if people care about them. I think this is important because it shows the people really love them and support them.”
Activists like Brown says Officer Derbin’s death is the latest reminder of how important it is to end gun violence. He’s now posing a challenge to Northeast Ohio communities.
“My challenge to this community that I love so much is let’s work to stop the violence,” he says. “Let’s talk it out. Violence is not the end, all be all. There’s got to be a better way.”