Letters: 'Columbus has lost one of its finest.' Cops'cop left mark during 40 year career

Columbus has lost one of its finest

On March 16 we said good-bye to Robert Richard Kern, leaving a great void in many lives. He served with distinction for more than 40 years as a member of the Columbus police department, rising through the ranks and retiring as deputy police chief.

'Our neighbors’ lives are on the line.' Non-police crisis team will make city safer

Bob was a “cops' cop,” as evidenced by the large number of police officers, both active and retired, who attended his services, including retired Police Chief James Jackson. A West High Cowboy from the Hilltop, Bob dedicated his life to serving the people of Columbus.

More:Photos: Life in Ohio in 1971

His final ceremonies included a service conducted by members of the Fraternal Order of Police, a police honor guard, motorcycle escorts, salutes from members of local police agencies, Prairie Township Fire/EMTs units, military bagpipes, members of the mounted patrol, and finally the playing of “taps” that all punctuated a life well lived, one committed to serving the needs of his community. Truly, this man was an everyday hero.

Columbus has lost one of its finest. We should all be thankful for his service to his community and for the continued service of his brothers and sisters in blue who serve us today.

Rest in peace my friend. We will be forever grateful.

Tom Rutan, Grove City

Colorectal cancer still a danger

Think you’re not at risk for colorectal cancer?

Think again.

Despite a general decline in rates over the last 40 years, colorectal cancer remains the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. even though it’s one of the few cancers that can actually be prevented with routine screening.

An estimated 153,020 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 52,550 are expected to die of this disease in 2023.

More:Rising colorectal cancer rates prompt calls for earlier screening

In Ohio alone, an estimated 5,914 will be diagnosed and 2,213 will die of colorectal cancer. While colorectal cancer can impact anyone, death rates are 44% higher in Black men and 21% higher in Black women compared to their white counterparts. And since the 1990s, for reasons that are not well understood, colorectal cancer has been on the rise in adults younger than 50.

We can and must do better. The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 2023 Early Detection Survey found that nearly one in five Americans 45 years of age and older say they have never had a colorectal cancer screening.

Routine colorectal cancer screening can prevent cancer or detect it early – often before symptoms appear. During a colonoscopy, your doctor can find and remove precancerous growths (polyps) before they become cancer. If cancer is already present, treatment is more likely to be successful if it is found early.

What are the options for colorectal cancer screening?

More:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch

Colonoscopies should be done every 10 years (your doctor may recommend more frequent screening based on your risk factors). You may also consider a virtual colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years or an at-home stool-based test every one to three years.  Talk to your health care provider about which screening option is best for you.

Consider your lifestyle choices. You may be able to reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not using tobacco, limiting alcohol, and eating a plant-based diet. To learn more, visit www.preventcancer.org/colorectal.

Kevin L. Boyce, Franklin County commissioner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Columbus Deputy Police Chief Robert Richard Kern left legacy