College Grants Scholarship Aid to Slain Police Officer’s Family

The children of slain Westerville Police officer have been awarded full-ride scholarships to attend Otterbein University.

The private four-year university first disclosed its decision to sponsor the daughters of Officer Eric Joering, who was fatally shot while on duty alongside Officer Anthony Morelli on February 10th, 2018, at a Westerville City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 20th. In a subsequent press release published on its website and social media accounts on Wednesday, the university expressed its hopes of providing a system of support for the Joering family as they transition through this difficult period by ensuring that each daughter “has sufficient support to complete an undergraduate degree at Otterbein.”

#Otterbein is committing to full tuition scholarships for each of Officer Joering’s 4 daughters for a period of up to 4yrs of full-time study to assure that each of them has sufficient support to complete an undergrad degree at Otterbein. #WestervilleStrong #OtterbeinKindness 1/2

— Otterbein University (@Otterbein) February 21, 2018

Our #Otterbein community hopes this act of kindness via scholarships for Officer Joering's 4 daughters will bring some peace to his children during this difficult time by providing them long-term security and support. #WestervilleStrong #OtterbeinKindness 2/2

— Otterbein University (@Otterbein) February 21, 2018

Otterbein University has also dedicated a Spotlight tribute in honor of the two officers, extending the university’s condolences to the families of the fallen officers as well as the Westerville Police Department.

Authorities have charged the 30-year-old perpetrator, Quentin Smith, with two counts of aggravated murder of Joering and Morelli. Officers Joering and Morelli were said to have arrived at Smith’s townhome residence after having received an urgent 911 domestic violence call where they were met with a hostile Smith. Former reports have indicated that there were several prior domestic violence incidences where police similarly had been called to Smith’s property, albeit without any arrests made.

Smith was reported to have been critically injured upon his arrest and was promptly hospitalized. Smith has since been discharged and is currently held without bail.