Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Michelle Hopper, aged 40, was fatally shot on January 1, 2011, while responding to a call at the Enon Beach Campground in Enon, Ohio. She was a 12-year veteran of the Clark County Sheriff's Office and was known for her dedication and commitment to her job. On that fateful day, she was attempting to photograph a footprint when the suspect, Michael Ferryman, ambushed her and shot her at close range with a shotgun.
The suspect, Ferryman, was a 57-year-old man with a
history of mental illness and violence. He had previously been involved in a shootout with police in 2001 and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. During the incident, a gun battle ensued between Ferryman and responding officers, resulting in Ferryman's death and the wounding of a German Township officer.
Maria Blessing, Ferryman's girlfriend, was later convicted of providing him with the firearm used in the shooting and was sentenced to five years in prison. The tragic event led to the adoption of the Suzanne Hopper Act, which aims to improve officer safety when dealing with offenders with a known history of mental illness.
Suzanne Hopper's death deeply affected the law enforcement community and the public, with thousands of officers attending her funeral and a stretch of Interstate 70 being named in her honor. Her legacy continues to be remembered and honored through various memorials and the legislation that bears her name.
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