Elgin man bikes more than 300 miles to honor brother, other police officers
Throughout a 102-mile bike ride from downstate Bloomington to Joliet, Craig Figgins of Elgin struggled against 15 mph headwinds, fighting his leg pains to keep pedalling.
It was Figgins' third and longest day of biking so far. Already he had ridden more than 150 miles from his starting point in Alton and planned to reach his destination, the Chicago Police Department Headquarters on Michigan Avenue, the next day.
Before this trip, Figgins, riding a bike he found on Craigslist, was never an avid cyclist. Not letting his inexperience stop him, Figgins had decided to participate in the 5th annual Illinois C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) Cycle Across Illinois in memory of his older brother, St. Charles Police Sgt. Daniel P. Figgins, and Schaumburg Police Officer Frank Russo, both of whom died while on duty.
The C.O.P.S. four-day cycling trip, which started July 15, is a charity ride that raises money for deceased officers' families to provide them with supportive services. Figgins received sponsorships from Mortenson Construction in Elk Grove Village and the Schaumburg Police Union and raised more than $800. More than $20,000 was raised by the entire group of riders.
Figgins began training in April using the Fox River Trail. He started out with 7-mile rides, gradually increasing to about 40 miles a day.
When the riders began in Alton they dipped the back wheels of their bikes into the Mississippi River. When they concluded their journey they dipped the front wheels into Lake Michigan to signify the end of the trip.
Throughout the 302-mile ride, Figgins wore both Russo's and his brother's officer patches on the back of his jersey to honor their memories as he rode with 43 other law enforcement officers and surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty.
Figgins, 42, is on the board of directors for Illinois C.O.P.S. and works as its northern region trustee, ensuring that families of deceased officers receive any supportive services they need. Figgins first became acquainted with the Russo family after attending Russo's wake and memorial services. Noting the similar circumstances that took the lives of Russo and his brother, Figgins says a "close bond" soon formed between the families.
Sgt. Figgins, 53, died April 9, 2005 after he collapsed while chasing some students suspected of breaking into St. Charles East High School's sport complex. Russo, 43, the first Schaumburg police officer to die in the line of duty, suffered a heart attack and died on Nov. 1, 2008 after trying to subdue an unruly customer outside a Schaumburg restaurant.
On the final day of the C.O.P.S. ride, a memorial service was held for Officer Russo at the Orland Park Police Department because traffic and safety issues prevented the riders from getting to Schaumburg. Two Schaumburg motor officers and two bike patrols met the group outside Orland Park and began a procession through town to the police station, with Figgins riding in the middle. Figgins, along with four police officers who were riding in honor of Russo, wore blue "officer down bracelets" engraved with Russo's date of death. At the memorial service Figgins and the police officers presented the bracelets to Russo's family, something Figgins described as one of the "most emotional" and "difficult" parts of his journey.
Figgins rode the final leg of the trip last year but wanted to do the entire thing this year.
"Last year I saw how painful it was for (the riders). It was 90 degrees outside and I said, 'I can't just do the last leg, that's not fair,' " Figgins said.
"I decided that I just had to do the whole thing. I wanted to prove that I could do it along with everyone else who was riding and honor my brother the whole ride."