Urbana to celebrate 160 years of police force

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - Urbana police officers and their supporters will celebrate 160 years of law enforcement protection with a party next week.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1GYDxMt ) that the commemoration began when Sgt. Matt Rivers - a self-described "history geek" - began compiling a roster of every officer who's served. The 34-year-old Rivers, an Urbana officer for seven years, says the roster begins with the appointment of the city's first marshal in 1855.

The research he began in spring 2014 will culminate with the party on Nov. 8 that will include about 75 sworn officers, retired and current.

Rivers and retired deputy chief Jim Page make presentations about the agency's history.

Rivers says it will be a chance "to say here's where we came from and to celebrate the birthday."

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com