To all FOP of Ohio and FOP/OLC members:

As you know, on July 13, 2008 Officer Josh Miktarian of the Twinsburg Ohio Police Department was (allegedly) killed by Ashford Thompson.  On July 20, 2008 radio station WTAM aired a program hosted by Art McKoy wherein friends and relatives of Ashford Thompson called in and discussed Mr. Thompson’s good “character”.  The FOP and the law enforcement community as a whole were outraged.  The FOP planned a boycott and the letter asking for advertisers support is attached.  President Nick DiMarco had discussions with the Program Manager from WTAM.  Then on July 27, 2008, WTAM, due to pressure from the FOP and others, aired an apology.  The apology came from the radio station and from Art McKoy. 

Mr. McKoy stated in pertinent part:  “Let me talk about last week’s controversial program.  … I take full responsibility. … I knew it would be sensitive but I thought in my thin brain that I could do it tactfully and discreetly so I would not offend anybody directly.  That did not happen.  As hard as I tried to choose my words and be discreet, several words I used were offensive and inappropriate. ….. I apologize foremost and apologize from the bottom of my heart. “ 

A full audio is available at www.wtam.com – click on Town Hall part 1.

Your membership in the FOP and FOP/OLC is what keeps our organizations strong and able to successfully react to slights such as this.   Before we even sent our boycott letter, WTAM was very concerned at having offended the law enforcement community and was anxious to resolve this matter.  The FOP will demand the respect that Officer Josh Miktarian, and all fallen officers deserve.