COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio is celebrating a major legal victory after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that police officers attacked in the line of duty are entitled to full protections under Marsy’s Law.
The case originated from a challenge brought by The Columbus Dispatch against the City of Columbus, questioning whether on-duty officers could legally be considered crime victims. In a strong majority opinion written by Justice Patrick DeWine, the Court rejected the newspaper’s argument that law enforcement personnel “can never be victims” while working.
Justice DeWine called that interpretation unsupported and directly at odds with the language added to the Ohio Constitution in 2017, stating plainly that officers “easily fall within [Marsy’s Law’s] scope… Because police officers are persons against whom crimes can be committed, they can be victims.”
Ohio FOP President Jay McDonald applauded the ruling, calling it a major step forward for officers statewide.
“This ruling is a bright light for common sense — of course Marsy’s Law protects police,” McDonald said. “When an officer is attacked, they are a victim like anyone else, and they deserve the same privacy and protections. Today’s decision reinforces what Ohio voters intended.”
The verdict formally affirms that when an officer becomes the victim of a crime, their personal information — including their name, face, and other identifying details — must be withheld from public records. That includes video footage in which the officer’s identity could be revealed.
According to the FOP, the decision strengthens safety protections for law enforcement and ensures equal treatment under the victim-rights amendment.
“Ohio’s officers put everything on the line to protect our communities,” McDonald added. “We’re grateful the Supreme Court upheld the Constitution’s clarity and protected all crime victims — including the men and women who wear the badge.”
