Round Lake Beach police rally to help fellow officer

Round Lake Beach police and the community rallied to help one of their own Sunday.

Police officer Kariann Hill was the focus of a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings, 500 E. Rollins Road, to help offset medical costs incurred in her battle against breast cancer.

A portion of the proceeds from food purchased Sunday was donated to assist Hill. The event also featured head shavings, raffles, contests and prizes.

The 26-year-old Hill, who has been with the department for three years and was named its 2014 Officer of the Year, said she felt a couple of lumps in her breast during a regular self check.

After an abnormal ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy, she learned March 13 she has stage-one breast cancer. The diagnosis would reveal it's an aggressive, fast-growing cancer, she added.

Hill and fellow officer Tim Schuster were planning to get married next year when they learned about her illness. They have decided to delay their plans to focus on Hill's treatment.

She recently started chemotherapy and will have four to five weeks of treatments before determining if she will need a lumpectomy and radiation, a mastectomy or double mastectomy.

Through it all, Hill and Schuster, who live in McHenry, said the department's support has been uplifting.