Hero Down: Painesville Police Lt. Marc Wagner Found Dead Of Apparent Suicide

Painesville, OH – Painesville Police Lieutenant Marc Wagner died of an apparent suicide on Sunday, according to his department.

The Geauga County Sheriff’s Department is handling the ongoing investigation into his death, the Painesville Police Department (PPD) said in a press release on Monday.

Lt. Wagner, a 12-year veteran-of-the-force, was serving as Officer in Charge of the department’s afternoon shift at the time of his death.

He was also a State of Ohio certified firearms instructor, and oversaw the agency’s range program.

Lt. Wagner previously served as the PPD’s K9 Program Supervisor, and spent many years developing new officers as a Field Training Officer, the agency said.

During his career, Lt. Wagner graduated from the Police Executive and Administrative Leadership School, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Law Enforcement Executive Development Association school.

“Lt. Wagner was an integral part of so many things we do, and in so many areas, it is hard to overstate the impact his loss will have on this department,” Painesville Police Chief Dan Waterman said in the release.

The PPD described him as an “accomplished” officer, who was “most proud of being a husband and the father of two young children.”

Many community members offered their condolences to the PPD and Lt. Wagner’s family via social media.

“Lt. Wagner always was the officer that treated me with never-ending kindness,” former Painesville resident James Lockwood commented on the PPD’s Facebook page. “He was such a great support for me. Thank you Lt. Wagner for your compassion.”

Audra Swartz said that Lt. Wagner had helped her son “on many occasions” when he attempted to commit suicide.

“Lieutenant Wagner was a great man,” Swartz wrote. “It breaks my heart.”

Kristin Yost Haavisto said that Lt. Wagner’s death “heartbreaking.”

“Painesville lost a great officer,” she wrote.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Painesville Police Lieutenant Marc Wagner, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.

Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.