University offers scholarships to fallen officer’s daughters

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio university has offered full four-year scholarships to the children of a police officer fatally shot while responding to a 911 hang-up call.

A representative from Otterbein University announced the scholarships to all three of Officer Eric Joering’s daughters during a Westerville City Council meeting Tuesday evening. Council members voted unanimously at the same meeting to retire the officer’s K-9 partner, Sam, to live with the Joering family.

Officers Joering and Anthony Morelli were killed Feb. 10 after entering a townhome in a Columbus suburb. Investigators say 30-year-old Quentin Smith was wounded when he exchanged gunfire with police.

Smith has been charged with aggravated murder, and he is being held without bail.