Centerville Police Officer remembered

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - "We miss him terribly.  I mean, we'll never be the same.  We don't ever stop crying and we never will," says Paula Kalaman.

Paula and her husband John remember the tragic day that changed their lives forever.

Their son John was working as Centerville Police officer on January 12th, 1998, when he stopped to help someone on I-675 near the Wilmington Pike exit.

He was hit and killed, along with Washington Township Firefighter Robert O'Toole.

Even though it's been 15 years, it still feels like yesterday to John's mom and dad.

"He loved life.  He enjoyed people. He truly enjoyed helping people and that's why I think that law enforcement was probably a perfect fit for his personality and what he believed in," comments John.

John's parents say he also had a giving spirit.

So, they hold a memorial blood drive and golf tournament for him every year.

"So far, we've collected over 3500 units of blood.  So, when that's broken down into it's three separate components that's about 10,000 units, which is fabulous when you think of the number of lives that could've been saved. Every year, we have a memorial golf tournament and so far we've given away $173,000 in scholarships to students," explains Paula.

And, they hope that you too will keep John's legacy alive, by thinking of him everytime you see flashing lights on the side of the road.

So, no other parents will have to endure their pain.

"To be so careless with this life on the side of the road, you're also risking the life of the civilian who could very well be a family member.  So, let's just obey the move over, slow down law and let's just give them a safe working environment," says Paula.

John's parents pushed for Ohio's Move Over/Slow Down law that was adopted in 1999.

It requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with their lights activated or they could face a fine.