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 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.”
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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] |
