Kane County Celebrates National Police Week, May 10 Ceremony at Mooseheart
The Kane County Chiefs of Police Association will stage the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Mooseheart Church of God inside the Mooseheart Campus on IL Route 31 between Batavia and North Aurora.
The non-denominational service features reflections, a candle lighting ceremony, formations from area police honor guards and pipe and drum units, a gun salute and more. The special guest speaker is Illinois State Trooper Michael Cokins, who was struck by a repeat drunken driver while he was conducting a traffic stop on I-294 in 2014.
The Wednesday service is part of the National Police Week celebration that will be taking place during the coming week in Kane County. Citizens are invited to join the Aurora police in remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice not only locally, but nationwide. This is the 21st consecutive year of local events for National Police Week, which was first proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Local Events 2017
Tuesday, May 16 — Exchange Club Police Officer of the Year
The event takes place at 11:30 a.m at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road.
Four Aurora police officers who displayed outstanding efforts in 2016 have been nominated for the annual award. Ticket deadline has been extended. Tickets are $20. Contact Kathy or Beth at 630-256-5008.
Saturday, May 20 — Aurora Police Department Memorial Ceremony
The event takes place at 10 a.m. at Memorial Plaza, in front of Aurora Police Department headquarters.
The APD will remember Alfred Olin and Thompson Richardson, the only APD officers killed in the line of duty, as well as active and retired employees who have died in the past year: Capt. Melvin R. Kramer, Sgt. Stephen W. Wennmacher, Lt. William Hornyan, and Court Detention Technician Dean Pederson.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Community Room.
Also, the Aurora Emergency Management Agency will host a PrepareAthon for the public. Presentations on various preparedness topics will be given from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Police Department Community Rooms.
Topics will include neighborhood safety, seasonal preparedness, preparing and using an emergency kit, and pet preparedness. Emergency Management Agency volunteers will be on hand to discuss their volunteer programs and answer questions. There will be some police vehicles and EMA vehicles on display.
Elgin Police Memorial Ceremony
SOURCE: Aurora Police Department Facebook page, city of Elgin e-newsletter
