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Euclid’s last city council meeting started on a different note than usual.
City leaders have set aside time to honor Euclid’s Police Cpt. Jeff Cutwright with a resolution commending his efforts to help facilitate the evacuation of a group of families out of Afghanistan as masses fled the country in August.
Cutwright, who heads the department’s patrolling division, first met Khalid Afzal, director of police at the Afghanistan Dominion Command, when they both attended the FBI National Academy in 2019. They quickly became friends.
A few years later, Cutwright joined the Mission Essential Group – made up of the other 248 members who attended the FBI National Academy in 2019, government officials, and members of the FBI and the State Department to help put Afzal and his family to safety as they join thousands of others evacuating from Afghanistan.
According to the council’s praise resolution, which has a record of the events, Afzal contacted Cutwright on August 15, “implying help so that he and his family could get out of Afghanistan safely, lest the Taliban do not kill him and his family. , because they had tried to kill him twice before.
While Afzal, his family and many other members of his group waited at the airport gate in Afghanistan for a flight, Cutwright kept in close contact with them, speaking with Afzal daily and communicating their needs to the group. Mission Essential.
On August 22, the group’s efforts paid off. Afzal texted Cutwright telling him that he and his family were safe with a group of US Marines and were on a flight out of the country.
Cutwright, accompanied by his wife Jill Cutwright, received the resolution at the October 4 council meeting, where he expressed his gratitude to the mayor and council members, and said he was happy to have been able to help his friend .
“Together with the city council, the mayor and the chief of police, and all of our officers, we work hard every day to make a difference there,” Cutwright said. “Whether it’s in the city of Euclid, or whether it’s citizens in Afghanistan, our main goal is to save life.”
If you watch TV a lot you might think our number one goal is to stop people – and we really don’t, ”added the captain. “Preserving life is our number one goal. “
Police Chief Scott Meyer also praised his actions, noting that Cutwright is known for his diligence and work ethic.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he was able to put that in place – when you give Jeff a mission, he works really, really, really hard on it,” Meyer said. “I am very proud of him because I am all of our officers.
Meyer, another graduate of the FBI National Academy, noted that those who attend the prestigious academy often forge strong bonds with each other during training. He explained that three percent or less of law enforcement personnel can attend the academy, which also teaches law enforcement personnel around the world.
“We are very proud of what Jeff has been able to do, with the help of others, and it is really impressive,” said Meyer. “I mean it was literally the difference between saving the lives of almost 75 people.”
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