Hainesville cop's death a heart attack

A Hainesville police officer who collapsed and died Friday had suffered cardiac arrest, authorities said Monday.

Corporal Cesar "Chico" Velazquez, 52, of West Chicago, joined the department in July 2008. He had previously served as a Skokie police officer and worked as a consultant and a teacher.

Velazquez collapsed Friday afternoon at a West Chicago train station. He had just taken the train from Chicago, where he was a witness in a child custody case, Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto said.

A review of the station's security video revealed Velazquez was not attacked, Soto said.

Velazquez hit his head when he fell, but an autopsy showed the cardiac arrest killed him, Soto said. Heart problems ran in his family, she said.

"It's just tragic," Soto said of Velazquez's death. "In my eyes, he was absolutely one of our top officers."

Velazquez is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and two children.

Visitation is scheduled for 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Salerno's Rosedale Chapels, 450 W. Lake St., Roselle.

The funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John Neumann Church, 2900 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Interment will be private.