PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Police once again honor their own.
The department Wednesday hosted their annual fallen officers memorial ceremony, honoring the fourteen lives lost in the line of duty over the years.
“None of us here can imagine the pain and suffering that you guys have all experienced. After all these years, you come here, and you’re remembering your loved ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this city, this nation,” said Police Chief Eric Echevarria.
A recent shooting death of a Chicago Police officer in the line of duty is not far from the mind of Echevarria.
“Today, in Chicago, they laid to rest an officer who had three years on the job. It was considered a line of duty death,” said Echevarria. “These threats are real, and today is one of those days where we remember that, and we see it firsthand coming out of a neighboring city like Chicago.
Chicago Police Officer and Illinois State University graduate Areanah Preston was killed almost two weeks ago, close to her front door. A funeral service was held Wednesday.
The last line-of-duty death for Peoria Police was in 2004.
