Stow Patrol Officer and FOP Treasurer Jonathan V. Bastock, 47, of Cuyahoga Falls died Saturday morning.
Bastock was pronounced dead at in Cuyahoga Falls, according to a spokesman for the medical examiner. The cause of death is pending.
Chief Louis Dirker said Bastock was on injury leave for knee surgery a few weeks ago. The chief said he "tore up his knee on a call" in early January.
"It's just shocking," said Dirker. "We had two chaplains come to the department today to talk with our officers ... but they aren't handling the situation really well."
Bastock worked the afternoon shift at the department and his wife, Donna, and three children live in Cuyahoga Falls.
Officer Bastock served as a sworn full-time police officer since Nov. 2, 1998. He served as member as of the Stow Police Reserves for five years prior to that, according to a statement released by the department.
will be handling the arrangements.
"I am terribly shaken that we lost Officer Bastock. [City Councilor] Matt Riehl and I spent time with him in December during the event, which commemorated every officer and firefighter lost in the line of duty that year," said Stow Councilor Mike Rasor. "Jon set that whole event up. It's tragic that next year's event will have a candle commemorating him. He was such a strong, jovial guy, it's just hard to believe we lost him."
Riehl echoed Rasor's sentiment and said, "This is a shock and a big loss for everyone."
For more information and funeral arrangements, check back with Stow Patch.
