Concerns of Police Survivors to ride into Lincoln today at 11:30 a.m.

[July 14, 2017]  LINCOLN - The Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors will have set off on their 13th annual bicycle ride from southern to northern Illinois and will be making a stop in Lincoln today at 11:30 a.m.

The group will be stopping for a noontime meal at the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District station on North Postville Drive in Lincoln. LRFD Chief Chris Buse commented on the activities planned for later this morning, "This is the second year of LRFD hosting the lunch break, and we are very humbled by their desire to want to use our facility again."

In addition to a lunch break, there will be a memorial observation held at the station for fallen police officer James Brockmeyer from Randolph County. Officer Brockmeyer worked for the Chester Police Department. On October 28, 2016, while in pursuit of a suspect, Officer Brockmeyer crashed his police vehicle and died as a result of his injuries. He was 22 years old and had been with the department only ten months.

According to the Illinois COPS website the bikers will be riding in honor of six fallen officers, five of whom lives were lost in 2016.

Correctional Officer Adam Conrad
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Deceased: January 20, 2016

Police Officer Scot Fitzgerald
South Jacksonville Police Department
Deceased: March 4, 2016

Patrol Officer Jason Gallero
Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department
Deceased: September 15, 2016

Police Officer Blake C. Snyder
St. Louis (Missouri) County Police Department
Deceased: October 6, 2016

Police Officer James Brockmeyer
Chester Police Department
Deceased: October 28, 2016

Trooper Bernard D. Skeeters
Illinois State Police
Deceased: May 20, 1982

The purpose of the annual ride is to raise awareness of the organization as well as the lives lost while serving to protect the public and to also raise funding for COPS programs.

When an officer dies, the Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors immediately sends members to be with the family of the lost officer. Their presence offers comfort from people who understand the devastation of this particular kind of loss.

The organization continues to offer surviving family members love and support and assists them through their transition periods after a loss.

In addition, the IL COPS groups sponsor's a youth camp that is exclusive to children of fallen officers, giving each child an opportunity to spend time with kids who understand and feel the same sense of loss.

To participate in the ride, each biker vows to raise at least $600 for the IL COPS benevolence fund.

The group began their ride yesterday with the tradition back wheel dip into the Mississippi River near Alton and riding to a final destination in the Chicago area. The ride is scheduled to be completed on Sunday.

The local community is invited to come out this morning and show support for the group.

[Nila Smith]