ATHENS, Ohio (June 28, 2006) -- Several Ohio law enforcement organizations are soliciting funds to support the family of Ohio University Police Officer Nathan Van Oort, 44, who was severely injured by a lightning strike near Logan, Ohio, on Thursday, June 22.
Van Oort, who is listed in critical condition at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, was participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics and was among a group running the torch from Athens to Lancaster.
Ohio Troopers Caring, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 55 and the Athens area chapter of the Ohio Patrolman's Benevolent Association are soliciting funds to assist the Van Oort family.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the Van Oort family through Ohio Troopers Caring should write out a check to OTC Executive Director Jim Roberts and deliver or send it to National City Bank, 1850 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43229. Make a notation that the money is for the Van Oort family or account number 111994191. For more information, call 1-800-544-7948.
To contribute through the Fraternal Order of Police and the Athens area chapter of the Ohio Patrolman's Benevolent Association, deliver or send a check made out to the Fraternal Order of Police with a notation that the funds are for the Van Oort family to one of the following locations:
- Hocking Valley Bank, attn: Judy Ellis, P.O. Box 4847, Athens, OH 45701
- Athens Police Department, attn: Police Officer Roger Deardorff or Police Officer Robert Filar, 11 N. College Street, Athens, OH, 45701
- Athens County Sheriff's Office, attn: Deputy Jerry Hallowell, 13 W. Washington Street, Athens, OH 45701
Van Oort has been an employee with the Ohio University Police Department since April 2000. In January 2006, he returned from a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard. He began his career at the Ohio University Police Department as a communication officer, before being hired as a police officer in August 2002.
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Media Contact: Media Specialist George Mauzy, (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu
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