IL C.O.P.S. make their annual bicycle journey across state

 

[July 25, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

On Friday morning, a large number of police officers were present at the Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District fire station, but there was no tragic emergency involved in their presence. Instead it was a celebration and remembrance of the many police officers throughout the state of Illinois who have made the ultimate sacrifice of their life for the safety of their communities.

Those officers, once gone, leave behind large gaps in their respective departments and communities. But most of all, they leave behind family - spouses, parents, children; all of whom knew going in that the day could come when someone could come to their door and tell them that their loved one had given his or her life in the line of duty.

When that happens, anywhere within our state, there is a group of loving, caring, compassionate people, many of whom have walked that path themselves, who arrive to offer support and comfort to grieving families. The Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors is that group, and they are called upon far too often to offer a strong and understanding shoulder for those who are suffering.

On Friday, as that group arrived in Lincoln on bicycles they were cheered into the Lincoln Rural Firehouse parking lot where they stopped for lunch and a time to visit with local supporters.

The IL C.O.P.S. Cycle Across Illinois annual bike ride starts in Pontoon Beach near St. Louis and ends in Chicago, making the trip on Route 66. Along the way they stop in a number of communities, and they visit with some of the survivor families. There is also at least one special memorial held along the route, honoring a fallen police officer in some manner.

This year, the stops in Logan County included lunch in Lincoln, then on to Atlanta for a rest stop.

The group was scheduled to arrive in Lincoln at around 11 a.m. They were running just a little late, according to Lincoln Police Officer and biker Maurice Johnson, due to some road construction they ran into on Route 66. The day was cooler than some of past years, and for the first part of the day the bikers had the wind at their backs giving them a little push and making the peddling a little easier. Johnson noted that the group felt like they would be able to make up the lost time as the day progressed, if the weather held out and the winds continued to move with them instead of against them.

As the dozens of bicyclists came into the parking lot at the fire station, there were members of the Lincoln Rural Fire department on hand to greet them as well as people from the community cheering them in and waving flags and signs. Members of the Lincoln Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Department and even an officer from the Atlanta Police Department were also on hand.

Among those cheering Kathy Moore, there with the youngsters from her daycare service. Moore explained that her daughter was a member of the Lincoln Police Department and Johnson is a friend to the daughter. She also pointed out that two of the youngsters who attend her daycare are children of local police officers. She said that she had been bringing the kids to the bike ride for the last several years. They had made posters to welcome the bikers, and had one of the special black and white American flags with the single blue stripe. The flag is a special model, honoring all the “men in blue.”

Another group in the crowd was a mom from Bloomington. She pointed out that her son is a police officer, her husband is a retired State Police officer, and her daughter-in-law was biking with the group. She proudly wore a tee-shirt that said, “Police Mom – Some people wait a lifetime to meet a hero. I raised mine.”

Also on hand for the second year were members of Officer Johnson’s family including his mother who came from Iowa to cheer “Officer Mo” into his department base.

At the fire station, Pastor TC Sutton and volunteers from Eminence Church in rural Atlanta were on hand to serve the group a healthy lunch. Before lunch was served IL C.O.P.S.’ Officer Michael Barnes spoke briefly thanking the group for providing a large healthy lunch and also thanking the Lincoln Rural Fire Department for the use of their facility. Officer Johnson expressed thanks as well to all those who helped coordinate the stop. Before offering the lunchtime grace, Pastor Sutton acknowledged the hard work of the volunteers from the church and gave special recognition to Angie Harrison, who leads the group in getting the lunch prepared and set up in Lincoln.

The officers were then invited to enjoy the meal and a brief time of rest and relaxation. The group then returned to their bikes and headed on north. They would make the scheduled stop in Atlanta, then continue on to Bloomington, where they stopped for the night. The group was scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Sunday.

While in Lincoln on Frid,ay Johnson said that he would be back on his bike again by mid-week riding with a similar group of police officers in Iowa. He explained that a member of the Illinois board had a family member killed in the line of duty in Iowa. That board member had asked that some of the IL C.O.P.S. participate in the Iowa ride in honor of that family member. Johnson said they would be riding from the heart of the state east to Davenport.

This year the IL C.O.P.S. Cycle Across Illinois was done in honor of these police officers: (EOW stands for “End of watch” and is the police designation for the date an officer was killed in the line of duty)

2017 Illinois Officers:

Police Officer Raymond Murrell
EOW: 01/19/2017 Bloomingdale PD

Trooper Ryan M. Albin
EOW: 06/28/2017 Illinois State Police

Police Officer Bernie Domagala
EOW: 09/05/2017 Chicago PD

Correctional Officer Kevin J Brewer
EOW: 10/14/17 Will County SO

Police Officer Andre VanVegten
EOW: 11/02/2017 Chicago PD

Police Officer Jaimie Cox
EOW: 11/05/2017 Rockford PD

Sergeant Allan Mollsen
EOW: 09/28/1986 Lombard PD

10 Year Anniversary Officers:

Police Officer Richard M. Francis
EOW: 07/02/2008 Chicago PD

Police Officer Nathaniel Taylor, Jr.
EOW: 09/28/2008 Chicago PD

Police Officer Frank Paul Russo
EOW: 11/01/2008 Schaumburg PD

Detective Joseph M. Airhart, Jr.
EOW: 11/04/2008 Chicago PD

In addition to raising awareness for fallen officers, the Cycle Across Illinois event is a fundraiser for the organization. Money raised through the bike ride goes toward providing services for families at their time of loss as well as funding a summer camp program for children of fallen officers.

The IL COPS is a 501c3 not for profit organization. They accept charitable donations year round. Donations may be mailed to:

Concerns of Police Survivors-Cycle Across Illinois
P.O. Box 4312
Wheaton, IL 60189

[Nila Smith]