Photographs by Jamie Nygaard
By Paula Scott
The community that has grieved and honored fallen police officer Dominic Francis since his loss in the line of duty on March 31, 2022, is now celebrating him with a first official memorial on Interstate I-75.
On Friday, April 28, ceremonies to commemorate the Officer Dominic Francis Memorial Highway--a portion of I-75 in Allen and Hancock counties--were held at Bluffton Town Hall. Signs will be located at mile marker 139 Northbound and 143 Southbound.
Attended by family, friends, colleages and those who were helped by Officer Francis, the event included comments by Representative Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield), Mayor Richard Johnson and Police Chief Ryan Burkholder.
The highway marker was unveiled by Francis's wife Ricki, who was joined by Chad Cupples, a former colleague who was an early advocate of the memorial highway project.
The room also featured a memorial wreath which has been displayed on the railing in front of town hall since the passing of Francis. Blue lights illuminated on the clock tower of Bluffton Town Hall have been echoed on homes throughout the village.
The Village of Bluffton and the Bluffton Police Department are developing a public memorial at town hall.
Officer Francis was struck and killed on I-75 while deploying stop sticks in response to a high speed chase that reached speeds of up to 120 mph. Three men involved in the death were tried and sentenced in Hancock County Court this spring.
