Police Mourn Fallen Officers During National Police Week

Wheaton police officers will don a patch of mourning Wednesday to honor fallen police officers in 2010 during National Police Week, which ends Saturday, May 21.

Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni said that the loss of any one officer is “too many.” According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) website, nine Illinois officers—out of more than 150 nationwide—lost their lives in 2010. Illinois was one of six states to have six or more fatalities in 2010, according to NLEOMF. The other states with six or more fatalities were California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Georgia.

Wheaton police officers John Weibler and Justin Long, with retired officer Molly Horan, went to Springfield on May 5 for the annual memorial ceremony for fallen Illinois police officers.

“It’s very humbling,” Weibler said of the memorial Tuesday. With hundreds of police officers in attendance, he said, “you could hear a pin drop—especially when the victim’s family member speaks."

Weibler, who went to the memorial on his own time, has gone to the Illinois memorial ceremony for the past 13 to 15 years. A procession of more than 200 squad cars moves from the Springfield fairgrounds to the host church, Weibler explained. After the church service, a procession goes to the state capital, where guest speakers—including family members of fallen officers—honor the fallen officers from Illinois.

“It makes you realize that at any given day you may not go home from work," he said. "It’s very moving."

The Wheaton Police Department will also host a from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 20, in honor of National Police Week.

“These men and women have the courage and commitment and dedication to protect and to serve the citizens of the United States,” Meloni said.  “We should respect their efforts … And remember their loss, and it is a loss that is most significant to their loved ones.”