Fraternal Order of Police pay tribute to Lt. Reffitt

As "Amazing Grace" was played on the bagpipes, more than 100 law enforcement officers in uniform - each clutching a single white carnation - paid tribute to a fallen brother in arms. 

The local Fraternal Order of Police held a memorial service Monday evening at the Hillsboro Church of Christ in honor of Lt. Randy Reffit, the jail administrator with the Highland County Sheriff's Office who died Thursday of complications from heart surgery and a stroke. And again on Tuesday, hundreds of family, friends, and co-workers paid their respects at the Hillsboro Church of Christ. 

Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward read a poem about a law enforcement officer entering the gates of Heaven. 

"The pages of history are resplendent with the recounting noble deeds," Wards said. "It is not possible that all of us be heroes in battle ... But it is easy for us to leave behind a history in the hearts of our friends, in which the history of our names shall be enscrolled in the letters of purest gold. We can be heroes in daily life. Let us resolve to do this."

The alter of the church was covered in displays of flowers, and many pictures of Reffett, with his family and children, and several with the dogs he trained while a law enforcement K9 officer.  

"To the dear ones of our departed brother, I have little comfort to offer," Ward said. "The wound has been opened, will not close ... Such occasions as this are for the living, rather than the dead. They are a reminder that some day we may answer the call ... It is only a parting, a temporary parting. Let us take sad comfort that our brethren is beyond suffering and free from earthly fear. 

"Brother Randy Reffitt's name is written upon our memorial tablet, and enscrolled within our hearts and his memory will be forever dear to us," Ward said.

Ward then led all the uniformed officers, from the Highland County Sheriff's Office and Hillsboro Police Department where Reffitt served, and from law enforcement agencies from across the Highland County and beyond, in laying, each, a single white carnation in front of his casket. 

According to Ward, the flower is "a symbol of a good life."

The officers then filed from the church sanctuary where they lined the sidewalks of the church - located across the street from the Hillsboro Police Department where - as with all public buildings in Highland County - a flag is flying at half staff in honor of Reffitt. 

Members of the Highland County community wishing to pay their respects to Reffitt will have an opportunity Tuesday when his funeral procession passes through the center of Hillsboro. 

The Highland County Board of Commissioners has declared Tuesday Lt. Randy Reffitt Day.

The funeral with full law enforcement honors will be held at 11 a.m. at the church. After the services, according to Ward, Reffitt's casket will be placed in an open horse-drawn funeral carriage. The funeral procession, which will include law enforcement vehicles from all county agencies, and the Hillsboro Honor Guard, will proceed up South West Street, turn on to West Main Street, and will then turn on to High Street. HIllsboro Fire and Rescue will use their ladders to drape an American Flag across the roadway on North High Street for the funeral procession to pass under. 

Reffitt will be interred at the Hillsboro Cemetery where a 21-gun salute will be conducted by an honor squad from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and two buglers will play "Taps." As graveside service draws to a close, Ward said, there will be an aircraft fly-over in a "missing man" formation, and the service will conclude with a "last call" on the radios. 

The procession is expected to go through the center of Hillsboro some time after the noon hour, and area residents are encouraged to line the streets to pay their respects to Reffitt. Several Uptown Businesses had signs on their doors Monday evening indicating they will be closed when the funeral procession passes to pay tribute to the fallen officer.