Aurora to observe National Police Week

Aurora police officers and city officials once again will pay tribute to the dedication of the men and women, past and present, who protect Aurora and communities nationwide during National Police Week, May 15 to 21.

This marks the 20th straight year the police department and city are celebrating the week, which has been observed nationally since President John F. Kennedy's 1962 proclamation that the week in which May 15 falls is designated as National Police Week. The same proclamation named May 15 as National Police Officer's Memorial Day to honor those officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

The local celebration of police week culminates on Saturday, May 21, when the community is invited to Aurora Police Department's annual Memorial Ceremony, which will salute current and former police officers.

The day will begin at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Plaza outside the Aurora Police Department's headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail, with a service dedicated to the memories of Alfred Olin and Thompson Richardson, the only two Aurora police officers ever killed in the line of duty. Also memorialized will be three Aurora police officers who passed away since last year's police week: Retired Capt. Lou "Duke" Beatus; Cmdr. Joe Groom; and Sgt. Don Corp. The Aurora Police Honor Guard will stage formations and a gun salute during the ceremony and the Pipes and Drums of the Aurora police also will perform. In addition, the names of officers who have retired will be officially unveiled on the Aurora Police Service Wall. The wall honors department employees who retired after 20, 25, and 30 years of service.

Following the ceremony, a vintage baseball game will be played under the original rules established in the 1800s between the Aurora Town Club, a team consisting of Aurora police officers, and the Lemont Quarrymen at Simmons Park across from the police headquarters. The Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will offer concessions.

Earlier in the week, the annual Exchange Club of Aurora Police Officer of the Year Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road, Aurora. Four Aurora police officers are nominated for the award that celebrates actions that go far above and beyond the call of their duties. It has been an annual tradition since 1963.

Prior to the formal celebration of police week, the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association's annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Mooseheart Church of God on Route 31 between North Aurora and Batavia. The nondenominational service will feature a candlelight vigil to honor Kane County officers who have been killed in the line of duty as well as formations from area police honor guards and pipe-and-drum units.

The guest speaker at the ceremony is retired police officer and licensed clinical psychologist Karen Koch, who is director of the forensic psychology program at Adler University in Chicago. Koch also has taught at the Police Training Institute, National-Louis University, and Moraine Valley Community College. She was a police officer in Oak Forest from 1976 to 2002 and is well-known for her work with law enforcement and military personnel. She also volunteers her time through the Chicago Police Survivors to help officers who have been injured in the line of duty.

For information, call (630) 256-5008.