Fallen Cops Honored At St. Jude Memorial March
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It was a bright morning for honoring Illinois's fallen heroes along the lakefront, reports WBBM's Nancy Harty.
Fallen Cops Honored At St. Jude Memorial March
Thousands of Chicago Police officers, state troopers and members of the FBI, DEA and Secret Service came out for the St. Jude Memorial March to pay their respects to those that have been killed in the line of duty.
Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the event, complete with bagpipes, honor guard and 21-gun salute near the Chicago Police Memorial can rip off the band aid of feelings of loss over deaths even a decade ago.
McCarthy says officers turned out because of a moral obligation to honor those killed in the line of duty, not because of some department mandate.
Michelle Whalen was there to watch her husband, a retired Chicago cop, and her son, a police recruit, march.
She says she's used to the fear and worry that comes with being the mother, wife and daughter of police officers, and wanted to show her support for the families who've lost loved ones.
While no Chicago cops were killed in the line of duty last year, 2 state troopers were.
Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau says officers from the FBI, secret service and DEA joined in mourning the loss of Troopers Kyle Deatherage and James Sauter.
Both were killed while patrolling Illinois highways.
