ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WAND) — The visitation and funeral times have been set for an Illinois State Police trooper killed in Champaign County last week.
Trooper Corey Thompsen, 28, was hit by a driver on East Leverett Road while on duty last Friday afternoon. He was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, but he died from his injuries that afternoon.
A photo provided by the family of ISP Trooper Corey Thompsen
During a news conference on Saturday afternoon, ISP Director Brendan Kelly said, "This is the first, and I hope the last, trooper who I personally administered the oath of an ISP officer to that I’ve lost in a line of duty death. The first and I hope the last Trooper who I’ve seen at the beginning of their watch and at the end of their watch."
A statement released by Thompsen's family said that he has always been a hero to them and that they "could never begin to thank law enforcement or the thousands from our community who have reached out to us to express their love and support."
"Our world has been shattered, and we will never be the same," the statement read. "But we take comfort in knowing that he lived life to the fullest, he loved his family and friends deeply, and he died doing what he loved. 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. -Matthew 5:9'"
According to his obituary, Thompsen graduated from Indiana State University and went on to the Southwestern Police Academy. He worked with the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group before attending the Illinois State Police Academy, as part of Cadet Class 130.
Thompsen's visitation will be Oct. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m., at St. Joseph-Ogden High School with a First Responder walk through at 5 pm. His funeral will be held Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph.
A map of the procession route for ISP Trooper Corey S. Thompsen. The procession will take place
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that donations be made to a memorial fund set up as the Trooper Corey S. Thompsen Scholarship fund at any University of Illinois Credit Union branch. This will provide a scholarship to St. Joseph-Ogden High School students entering the field of criminal justice.
The family asks the community to show support by lining the procession route.
The Flagman’s Mission Continues is asking for help from those in St. Joseph and neighboring communities to set up and take down flags. Information can be found in the post below, and Jeff Hastings can be reached for questions at 618-409-0323.
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