MANSFIELD — Peace Officers Memorial Day was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 through a proclamation that designated May 15th as a day of recognition for fallen law enforcement officers.
In Mansfield, that means a time to remember the four police officers who died in the line of duty while serving the city.
Here’s each of their stories, with art and details provided by the Mansfield Division of Police.
Officer John Englehart Jr.
Killed in the Line of Duty on Aug. 7, 1893.
Officer John Englehart was the first officer of the Mansfield Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.
On Aug. 7, 1893, Officer Englehart was assigned to the Union Depot for security and to prevent tramps and bums from boarding the baggage cars for a free ride.
While handling this detail, Officer Englehart positioned himself between two tracks as an Erie passenger train was loading passengers. While watching the passenger train, a freight train traveling on the second track struck Officer Englehart.
The projection from a freight car knocked him into the track of the Erie passenger train, which struck him and took his life.
Officer Englehart, who had served the department for four years, was a single man who contributed largely to the support of his parents. He was also survived by a fiance.
He was described as polite, genteel of good habits of excellent character, and one who had earned the respect and goodwill of everyone. The local paper reported, “By the death of John Englehart, our City loses a faithful Officer and a most valuable citizen.”
Lt. William J. Taylor
Killed in the Line of Duty on Feb. 26, 1949.
On Feb. 18, 1949, Lt. William J. Taylor responded to a disturbance call at 321 E. Fourth St. Taylor and two other officers responded to Robert Dilgard shooting a gun in the air after threatening family members.
When the officers arrived, Dilgard (who was described as a crazed war veteran) went into his bedroom and refused to come out. When he finally agreed to come out, he had a .22 caliber pistol in his hand. When Lt. Taylor tried to disarm Dilgard by grabbing the gun, the suspect pulled away and shot the officer twice in the abdomen.
One of the other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Eight days later, Lt. Taylor died from his injuries on Feb. 26, 1949.
Lt. Taylor was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, having served as a boatswain’s mate aboard an LSM in several Pacific invasions. He served with the Mansfield Police Department for six years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Service-Safety Director Earl Garrison stated, “Lt. Taylor was one of the finest fellows I’ve known in a long, long time.”
Chief Jesse Schwab stated, “Lt. Taylor was one of my most efficient officers; a great loss for the department and a greater loss to his many friends. Men of his caliber are hard to replace.”
Officer Michael Hutchison
Killed in the Line of Duty on Feb. 6, 1976.
Officer Michael Hutchison was shot and killed when he and his partner arrived at the T and A Market at 660 Diamond St. in Mansfield at 4:15 p.m. on the call of a man attempting to cash a check stolen the day before during a purse snatching.
The subject, Charles Cotten Sr., ran from the building with Patrolman Hutchison in pursuit. When Hutchison caught up to the suspect, he was shot in the arm and knocked down. As he was on the ground, Cotten shot him again in the side.
The suspect also shot and wounded Hutchison’s partner, Officer Roger Casler, during the incident, before stealing both of their weapons.
Within minutes of the call, 20 or more officers, deputies, and off-duty officers were on the scene. The 32-year-old Cotten and two accomplices were captured during a car stop on Interstate 71 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Prince Charles Cotten Sr., alias “Charles D. Cotton,” was convicted of aggravated murder on May 27, 1976. His death penalty sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1978.
In October 2010, he was denied parole for the fourth time. He was denied parole again in October 2015 and 2022. On Aug. 29, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld a life sentence for Cotten’s conviction.
He remains incarcerated in the Marion Correctional Institution. His next parole hearing date is December 2027.
Patrolman Hutchison served with the Mansfield Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and a brother who served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Officer Hutchison was a Vietnam veteran who had served in the Navy.
Mansfield Police Chief Richard Hildebrand characterized Officer Hutchison as a very dedicated officer. He was described by fellow officers as being an excellent officer who truly enjoyed the police profession.
Officer Brian D. Evans
Killed in the Line of Duty on Dec. 26, 2007.
Police Officer Brian Evans, 37, was shot and killed while providing medical assistance to a man who had just been shot by Officer Evans’ brother.
Officer Evans and his brother’s wife had become concerned about his brother because of his depression. When the two arrived at his house at 3085 Robinson Road in Weller Township to check on his welfare, they discovered that Larry Evans’ neighbor, Robert L. Houseman, 44, had been shot and was lying in the driveway.
As the wife who was sitting in a vehicle with Officer Evans pleaded with him to leave and call for additional help, Officer Evans exited the vehicle and pulled the wife to the driver’s side of the vehicle and ordered her to leave.
Officer Evans immediately began to render help to Houseman as his 39-year-old brother appeared and began to fire an M4 rifle at the vehicle containing his wife.
Officer Evans intervened long enough to distract the shooter and allow the wife to escape to safety. The vehicle was hit at least 10 times; however, the wife was unharmed.
Larry Evans, a guard at the Mansfield Correctional Institution, then shot his brother, Officer Brian Evans in the chest, killing him.
Moments later, the suspect’s sister and sister-in-law arrived at the scene and were also fired upon. Both were wounded as they fled in their vehicle. Neither woman’s injuries were life-threatening.
Although Officer Evans was unable to save Houseman, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, his actions clearly saved the life of the suspect’s wife.
“I believe that Brian chose to confront his brother hoping that he could intervene and help him,” Mansfield Police Chief Phil Messer said at the tme.
The suspect surrendered to authorities following a three-hour stand-off in which nearly 80 shots were fired. Larry Evans was charged with the murder of a police officer and the murder of his neighbor.
On Sept. 9, 2008, Larry Evans was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state mental institution.
Officer Evans served with the Mansfield Police Department for 14.5 years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.