Published on April 27, 2026 10:06 am
Last Updated on April 27, 2026 10:06 am
The annual Illinois Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor law enforcement officers killed in Illinois in the line of duty, including two who died during 2025, will be held Thursday, May 7 at 11 a.m. at the Illinois Peace Officer Memorial sculpture on the Illinois State Capitol grounds in Springfield.
“The men and women of law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving their communities should always be remembered,” said Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge President Kevin Farrell. “Everyone who wears the badge knows the risks they face each and every day, and they still continue to protect and serve their fellow citizens.”
The law enforcement officers killed during 2025 who will be recognized during the May 7 ceremony are Chicago Police Department Officer Krystal Rivera, who died June 5, 2025, and Park Forest Detective Tim Jones, who died on December 3, 2025.
In addition, the names of six officers who were killed in the line of duty many years ago will also be recognized and have their names added to the memorial. They include: Probationary Patrolman Benjamin Devlin, Chicago Police Department, November 15, 1922; Constable Isom Gillham, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, December 11, 1852; Deputy Lindley Larrison, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, January 22, 1925; Special Agent Edward Fay, Belt Railway Company of the Chicago Police Department, November 22, 1921; Special Agent Alexander Lang, Belt Railway Company of the Chicago Police Department, September 17, 1922; and Detective Frank McCaskey, Belt Railway Company of Chicago Police Department, April 2, 1918.
The day’s observance on May 7 will begin with the lineup of squad cars from around the state at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The procession will depart the fairgrounds and arrive at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for a 9:30 a.m. memorial church service. The procession then travels to the State Capitol for the 11 a.m. ceremony.
The Illinois FOP State Lodge is one of the founding organizations of the Illinois Peace Officers Memorial. The other founding organizations include the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Police Association, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, and Police Benevolent and Protective Association. Supporting organizations include Blue Knights of Illinois, Illinois Gold Star Families, and Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS)
The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee was established in 1985. The monument in Springfield bears the names of the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. Every year on the first Thursday of May, they hold a ceremony to pay tribute to fallen officers and their families. For more information, visit www.illinoispolicememorial.org
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
