Memorial to Fallen State Troopers Dedicated

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Published on December 2 2015 11:28 am
Last Updated on December 3 2015 7:53 am
Written by Greg Sapp

It's been almost 50 years since the murder of Illinois State Trooper Frank Doris, almost 40 years since the murder of Trooper Layton Davis, but the memories were fresh and the pain real during a ceremony Wednesday morning to dedicate a memorial in honor of the fallen troopers.

The memorial was sponsored by the Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club.

Mark Doris, himself a retired trooper and the son of Frank Doris, and local businessman Alan Davis, one of Layton's sons, were among those who spoke as snowflakes began to fall on the lawn of the historic Effingham County Courthouse, where the memorial is located. Mark Doris said even after almost 50 years, it's hard to talk about his father's death. Alan Davis let the tears flow freely as he remembered his father's death.

Captain Kelly Hodge, currently District 12 and District 19 State Police Commander, remarked that when he was named District 12 Commander, he planned to secure something for the headquarters to remind troopers that they were appreciated. He said he never imagined something as nice as the memorial dedicated on Wednesday. Hodge added, and others echoed, that it has never been a more dangerous time to be serving in law enforcement, making Wednesday's ceremony that much more important.

Along with Frank Doris, who died in 1967, and Layton Davis, who died in 1976, the memorial honors Trooper Harry Bradley, who died in 1957, and Trooper George Wheeler, who died in 1927. Several members of the Doris and Davis families were present for the dedication.

(ILLINOIS STATE POLICE DISTRICT 12 COMMANDER CAPTAIN KELLY HODGE SALUTES THE FLAG BORNE BY A STATE POLICE HONOR GUARD AT THE CEREMONY)

Sunrise Rotarian Kathy Schroeder, who chaired the committee that oversaw the project, served as emcee for the ceremony and made note of the number of businesses and individuals who helped finance the project. 

The law enforcement thread was woven throughout the ceremony. Among the speakers were Effingham County Board Chairman Jim Nieman, a retired Effingham city police officer, and Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker, whose father was a State Trooper who worked with Layton Davis.

Sunrise Rotarian Kelly Stanfield reported on efforts by St. Sen. Dale Righter and St. Rep. David Reis to get the portion of I-57 from the Shelby County line to the north Effingham tri-level named in honor of Trooper Davis and the stretch from the south Effingham tri-level to the Watson/Mason interchange in honor of Trooper Doris.

Many other past and present law enforcement officers were on hand for the dedication.