Lake County police memorial especially poignant, heartbreaking this year
Illinois State Police trooper Gerald "Jerry" Ellis of Antioch was one of four law officers remembered Friday for laying down their lives in the line of duty.
The 2019 Lake County Police Memorial took place in Lincoln Plaza at the Lake County government center in Waukegan. The event was attended by nearly 100 law enforcement members, politicians and civilians.
Ellis' widow, Stacy, was at the ceremony, which featured the reading of the names of officers killed, a 21-gun salute, and speeches by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Lake County Board Chairwoman Sandy Hart, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim, Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles, and Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg.
"To the men and women assembled here today, and to those out there now patrolling our streets and protecting our communities, we honor our fallen heroes by making sure we are the best we can be every day," Nerheim said. "That we are on the top of our mission to serve our community, respect the rule of law, and to protect our residents."
A moment of silence was held near the start of the program for Ellis, for fellow state troopers Christopher Lambert and Brooke Jones-Story, and for McHenry County Deputy Jacob Keltner.
"To our Gold Star families in attendance today, know the legacy of your loved one will live on forever," Idleburg told the crowd.
Ellis, 36, was killed on March 30 when his squad car was struck by a wrong-way driver on I-94. He was an 11-year veteran of the state police and served District 15, based in Downers Grove.
Ellis was the third Illinois trooper killed this year. Lambert, 34, of Highland Park, was off-duty in January when he was killed while responding to a crash involving several vehicles on the Tri-State Tollway near Northbrook. Jones-Story, 34, who lived in rural Stockton, was struck by a semitrailer truck March 28 while she was inspecting another truck she had pulled to the shoulder near Freeport.
Keltner, 35, of Crystal Lake, was fatally shot March 7 outside a Rockford hotel while trying to serve an arrest warrant while working as part of a U.S. Marshals team.
"Every loss is one loss too many," Stratton said, but the losses this year were "extremely tragic."
Hart said 148 new names have been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, reflecting the officers who lost their lives in 2018.
"One of the Lake County Board's top priorities is to enhance the safety of our residents, and we are proud to be protected by some of the most dedicated law enforcement professionals," Hart said. "I want to thank the officers who put their lives on the line each and every day. Because of you, Lake County is a great place to live, work and raise a family."
Lake County's ceremony was one of many across the nation honoring police officers who died in the line of duty. A similar event was held at the Cermak Woods Forest Preserve near Lyons for the Cook County sheriff's office. The ceremony honored federal, state, county and municipal officers who died in Cook County, including Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer and Chicago police officers Samuel Jimenez, Eduardo Marmolejo, and Conrad Gary.