Sgt. James A. Kerstetter remembered in Elyria 16 years after line of duty death

Sixteen years have passed since Elyria police Sgt. James A. Kerstetter was killed in the line of duty — a day that is marked each year with a ceremony in honor of his life and memory. Winds gusted and the sun shone brightly Sunday as community members and law enforcement officers gathered with members of Kerstetter's family to mark the anniversary. "He exemplified what it means to be a police officer," said Elyria Police Chief James Welsh. "This is our 16th anniversary of his death, and I think it speaks volumes about all of the community, retirees and current officers who didn't even work with Jim that show up today to support his legacy, the Kerstetter family and the Police Department." Kerstetter, who was a 15-year veteran of the Elyria Police Department, was fatally shot while responding to a neighborhood disturbance March 15, 2010. As Welsh spoke during the ceremony, members of Kerstetter's family stood behind him. "We do really appreciate everybody who comes out. They do this every single year, and it's a great remembrance," said Kathy Kerstetter, sister of James Kerstetter. Although Shelby Constantino, one of James Kerstetter's daughters, said the anniversary is a difficult day, she said she is grateful to see others come out to support her family. "I was 14 when it happened, so obviously it was very hard on me, it was a very hard time," Constantino said. "But now, as I've gotten older, I see, like, it was hard on a lot of people." Many of those people affected by Kerstetter's death were in attendance for Sunday's wreath laying. "Jim's family means the world to me, and that's the main reason why we do this every year," Welsh said. "That's all that I want, for them to know that we will always remember their father, and we will make sure that his legacy lives on." Before Kerstetter's death, Welsh served with him in the Elyria Police Department. Each year, he has marked the time with each anniversary and each ceremony. But this year's ceremony to remember Kerstetter was Welsh's first as police chief. "I spent the first 12 years of my career working alongside Jim Kerstetter as partner and friend. And we shared a lot of long shifts," Welsh said. Through those long shifts and responding to emergency situations, Welsh said that the two talked about "what it means to wear this badge." "As long as I'm the chief and I have the opportunity to celebrate his sacrifice, I'm going to make sure that I do so," Welsh said. "Whenever his name comes up, I'm going to be the first person to talk about what Jim Kerstetter meant to this community, this department and me, personally." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.