Mayor: Fallen officer knew 'he could make Bluffton better'

People who knew Bluffton Police officer Dominic Francis in a variety of roles — police officer, educator, firefighter, coach, long-ago student — described him over and over with words like "giving," "dedicated" and "well respected." Most of all, they said, he was determined to make a difference. Francis, 42, of Mount Cory, died after he was hit around 2:30 a.m. Thursday by the car he was trying to stop while putting stop sticks on Interstate 75 at Bluffton. A nine-year veteran of the Bluffton Police Department, he spent a total of 19 years in law enforcement. Bluffton Mayor Richard Johnson said his son-in-law, who is also a Bluffton police officer, was good friends with Francis. The village website lists a total of 14 officers, including Chief Ryan Burkholder. "He was a very dedicated officer. … He looked forward to coming to work," Johnson said of Francis. That's because, he said, Francis knew "he could make Bluffton better." Johnson said Francis was respected by all of his fellow officers — and by the village administration. "The village thought a lot of him," he said. Jay Clark, Cory-Rawson superintendent, confirmed Francis was a 1998 graduate of the district. His roles at the school as an adult included substitute teacher, school bus driver, football and softball coach, and weight room supervisor. Clark noted the school district, with about 520 students, is "very close-knit." Students have known Francis in many roles, and it's "hard to wrap our heads around that." Francis drove the afternoon bus route before working nights at the police department, Clark said. He said Francis "stepped into that role" midway through the current school year, when the district had a need. Clark said Francis reached out and was "very welcoming." He described him as "really friendly" and "the type of guy that never met a stranger." Cory-Rawson athletic director Caleb Scott said Francis had coached at the school for "quite some time" and there are teachers who Francis had coached when they were teenagers. Scott said Francis was willing to help with other responsibilities, such as boys basketball, and Scott had seen Francis at the school at all hours. He noted that Burkholder had described Francis at Thursday's press conference as having a "heart of gold." "That's truthfully the best way to put it," said Scott, who said Francis was "a hardworking individual" who cared immensely about the youth. Before attending Cory-Rawson, Francis had earlier gone to elementary school in Bluffton, said Bluffton Village Council President Jerry Cupples, who had known Francis since he was a child. "He just quietly went about his business" doing his job, said Cupples, who described Francis as "a good man." "It leaves a big hole in the village," he said. Claire Clay, director of public relations and advancement operations for Bluffton University, said in a statement that Francis had responded to a fire alarm in a university residence hall hours before he was killed. "Students shared that after the building was cleared, he held the door for each student so they could return safely inside. He was known as a kind and caring officer amongst our students, and he greatly impacted their lives," she wrote. "Our students, faculty and staff mourn his loss and will miss seeing him on campus. This is truly a tragedy for the entire Bluffton, Ohio, community." Francis was a Findlay Police officer from September 2006 until December 2008, said Lt. Andrew Welch of the Findlay Police Department, who served alongside Francis on the afternoon shift frequently when they were both new at the department. Welch also attended Cory-Rawson, and said Francis was slightly older. Welch had known Francis "as long as I can remember." "He wanted to make a difference," Welch said. "He wanted to help people. He always put that first." Francis also previously worked for the Hancock County Sheriff's Office. "This morning we lost a great man," states a social media post from the Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire District, where Francis also served. "A man dedicated to serving his community and the communities around us. Captain Francis lost his earthly life while serving and protecting our community as a Bluffton police officer. A husband, a father to two children, a son, a community friend, a brother to the thin blue line and a dedicated Captain serving our fire district…. Thank you for your kind, dedicated, and caring heart! Rest easy brother, we will take it from here." By early evening, the post had been shared more than 630 times. Francis was a 2002 graduate of the University of Findlay, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. "Dominic was well respected by both his peers and faculty. His passion was to work in law enforcement, a dream he fulfilled," wrote Todd Beitzel, assistant professor of criminal justice and chair of the Department of Justice Sciences, in a statement. "Having had Dominic as a student in several of my classes, I knew Dominic would make an outstanding law enforcement officer. Dominic will forever be remembered for his dedication to serving his community, affable personality, quick wit, and sense of humor." On Facebook, messages of support poured in from police departments throughout the state. Other area schools also reached out on social media. "We are all hornets today!" tweeted Vanlue Local Schools. "Carey High School sends our love!" tweeted its principal, Peter Cole. Both accounts used the hashtag #StingersUp Arthurs: 419-427-8494