GREENE COUNTY, Ohio — A beloved Ohio sheriff passed away Tuesday night after suffering a medical emergency.
Green County Sheriff Gene Fischer was attending a conference in Sandusky when the department said he suffered a medical emergency at around 9 p.m., WHIO-TV in Dayton reports.
Fischer was taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center where he later died.
Prior to becoming Green County sheriff in 2003, Fischer served as a Xenia police officer for 20 years, according to WHIO.
In honor of Fischer, the Green County Sheriff's Office lowered its flag to half-staff Tuesday evening.
In a statement Wednesday, Governor Mike DeWine said he and Fran were "shocked" to learn of Fischer's sudden passing.
"Fran and I first met Gene when he worked at the Xenia Police Department," the statement reads in part. "What always struck me was how well loved he was by men and women who worked under him at the department, and he had that same strong relationship with the men and women who worked for him at the Sheriff's Office."
DeWine ordered all U.S. and State of Ohio flags be lowered to half-staff at public buildings and grounds throughout Green County to honor Fischer. The flags will remain lowered until Fischer's funeral, DeWine said.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office also offered condolences on Wednesday, saying in a social media post, "Our thoughts are with our Greene County Sheriff's Office family this morning as we all mourn the loss of Sheriff Gene Fischer. He was a great colleague and friend to so many people, including here."
Greene County is in southwest Ohio between Columbus and Dayton.