For this department to honor its fallen officers, support is needed

PARMA, Ohio – The Parma Police Department is asking the community to support the association’s donation drive to build a memorial garden.

“It’s powerful and exciting. I am very proud to be a part of this project,” said Detective Lt. Amanda Kaniecki of the Parma Police Department.

On Tuesday, the American flag flutters in the gusty autumn wind as a symbol of freedom, unity and sacrifice, and as an expression of Kaniecki’s hopes for what the entrance to their department will one day become.

“It’s just a way to honor all the officers who gave everything they had for the department and the community,” Kaniecki said.

One of those officers, Kaniecki, said the department plans to memorialize Officer Kandice Straub, the first woman on the Parma Police SWAT team, in its future memorial garden.

“I had the luxury of calling her my friend, but for some time I was also her co-worker and supervisor,” Kaniecki said.

The department announced Straub’s death in April, and her mother, Karla, told News 5 it was a suicide the following June.

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“This whole mental health thing has such a stigma – it’s too powerful – it shouldn’t be. She just shouldn’t be that powerful,” Karla told News 5 in June.

A few months later, Karla speaks out again, this time to express her appreciation for the work led by the Parma Police Association, which is also similar to the memorial garden that Kandice’s family, colleagues and friends installed a few weeks later in memory of the fallen officer.

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“These people are really important,” Karla said. “It takes a special kind of selfless person to do this job, knowing that they may not come home that day.”

So far, Kaniecki said two Parma police officers have died in the line of duty and nine other officers of various ranks, including Straub, have died while serving the city.

Kaniecki hopes to learn their names the day after the first stage of construction of the monument is completed.

But before that happens, Kaniecki asks the commune for help in purchasing a brick be included in their memorial garden as well as support their goal of raising $90,000.

“To know that we are giving back to those officers who gave their all,” Kaniecki said. “It’s powerful and exciting. I am very proud to be part of this project.”

The association hopes to raise enough money to meet its goal of opening in spring 2025.

To give back, click here.