Hundreds gather at the State Capitol to remember officers killed in the line of duty

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Law enforcement officers from across Illinois gathered in Springfield Thursday to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during the annual Illinois Peace Officers Memorial Service.

The ceremony was held at the Illinois Peace Officer Memorial sculpture on the Illinois State Capitol grounds. The annual observance recognizes officers killed while serving their communities and pays tribute to the families left behind.

“The men and women of law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving their communities should always be remembered,” Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge President Kevin Farrell said in a statement. “Everyone who wears the badge knows the risks they face every day, and they still continue to protect and serve their fellow citizens.”

Two officers killed in 2025 were recognized during Thursday’s ceremony: Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera and Park Forest Detective Tim Jones.

In addition to honoring recently fallen officers, six names from earlier decades were officially added to the memorial wall Thursday. Those officers include:

Probationary Patrolman Benjamin Devlin, Chicago Police Department, killed Nov. 15, 1922
Constable Isom Gillham, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, killed Dec. 11, 1852
Deputy Lindley Larrison, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, killed Jan. 22, 1925
Special Agent Edward Fay, Belt Railway Company of the Chicago Police Department, was killed on Nov. 22, 1921
Special Agent Alexander Lang, Belt Railway Company of the Chicago Police Department, was killed Sept. 17, 1922
Detective Frank McCaskey, Belt Railway Company of Chicago Police Department, was killed on April 2, 1918

During the ceremony, Trooper Corey Thompson's family spoke to the crowd. Trooper Thompson was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 18, 2024. Ryan Thompson, Corey's brother, shared the pain his family still feels nearly two years later.

"Tragically, we are all here because we have experienced the unthinkable. The trauma of having someone you love and cherish be violently taken without warning, without a final goodbye, a hug, a kiss, or a final I love you."

The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee was established in 1985, with the memorial serving as a permanent tribute to officers who died in the line of duty. Every year on the first Thursday in May, law enforcement agencies, families and supporters gather in Springfield to remember those officers and recognize their sacrifice.