Peers honor fallen Libertyville officer

Hundreds of police officers paid tribute Thursday to Libertyville police officer Kenneth Free, who died after crashing his motorcycle while off duty last week.

Free was a 12-year veteran of the Libertyville Police Department who had been assigned the past several years to the Metropolitan Enforcement Group as a supervisor. The group is a task force concentrating on gangs, illegal drugs and weapons.

Free, 43, of Wadsworth, was traveling north on Sheridan Road in Waukegan around 9:30 p.m. Aug. 3 when he lost control of his motorcycle at Longview Road. Authorities said his blood-alcohol content was 0.21, nearly three times the 0.08 legal threshold in Illinois.

Fellow officers described Free as humble and hard-working, and willing to help in any way possible.

Funeral services were held in Beach Park, and Free was buried at Warren Cemetery in Gurnee. His survivors include his wife and three sons.