Canfield City Council President Christine Oliver, who started Back the Blue Ohio in Canfield, observes a painting by Ron Moore Jr. of Austintown. The beneficiary of this year’s sixth annual fundraiser is the family of Lorain police officer Phillip Wagner, who was ambushed by a gunman July 23.

CANFIELD — Lorain police officer Phillip Wagner was sitting in his patrol car on River Bend Drive around 1 p.m. July 23 eating lunch with his partner when a heavily armed gunman fired at their car and engaged in a battle with reinforcements.

He shot three officers before being killed himself. Wagner, a Marine who served in Afghanistan, died and he left a wife and three children, ages 5, 4 and 6 months.

Saturday afternoon on the Village Green in Canfield, Back the Blue Ohio hosted its sixth annual fundraiser to aid the children of fallen officers. The event featured food trucks, crafts, a bike procession, a classic car show and music by Youngstown’s Houseband.

Canfield City Council President Christine Oliver started Back the Blue Ohio in 2000 as she felt the need to show support for police. She said it was her husband who suggested that instead of just a rally, make it a fundraiser. She noted 923 police officers have been killed in the line of duty in the history of Ohio.

This year, Back the Blue focused on Wagner and his family as Lorain is not far from our area.

“Unfortunately, there is always a tragedy involved when we do something good,” Oliver said.

She had two major announcements to share. She applied to Tunnels to Towers, a national organization that aids veterans and their families. She announced Saturday that Tunnels to Towers has agreed to pay the Wagner family’s mortgage in full.

Second, she announced Back the Blue had met its fundraising goal of $5,000, in part because of car dealer John Kufleitner who donated $2,500 and pledged an additional $5,000 for 2026. He also plans to host a car show next year to benefit Back the Blue Ohio.

After the opening ceremony, a large procession of motorcycles descended on the Village Green. Austintown resident Michael Joseph belongs to the Guardians Blue Line Chapter.

“My wife and I are retired police officers and we come every year to support the group,” he said.

John Farnsworth of Youngstown is president of the Selfless Souls motorcycle club.

“We back fellow law enforcement officers because they protect the community. We support the people who risk their lives every day,” Farnsworth said.

Youngstown’s Houseband lead guitarist Jerry Centifanti of Poland said they have performed at this event every year. He likes that it “brings people out to make them aware of those in uniform who protect us.”

Austintown artist Ron Moore Jr. exhibited a work he just completed. It displays a Lorain police badge, surrounded by a saluting officer, an eagle, and a lion to symbolize courage. All around them are clouds, which represent the uncertainty they face every day.

Among the elected officials attending was Mahoning County Commissioner Geno DeFabio.

“My father was a policeman. We need to show our support and make people know their sacrifice,” he said.

The event concluded with a basket raffle and 50-50 drawing, followed by an Honor Guard and 21-gun salute presented by the Youngstown Police Department.