Slain Officer Honored With Street Designation

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A street in the southwest side Ashburn neighborhood has been named in memory of a fallen Chicago Police officer.

More than 200 police officers, family members and friends gathered at 44th Street and Homan Avenue for the unveiling of the honorary street designation naming the 4300 block of South Homan in memory of murdered officer Nathaniel Taylor.

Retired Police Supt. Phil Cline was Taylor's commander when Cline headed the Narcotics Unit.

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"It's important that we remember our heroes," Cline said. "Nate was the consummate police officer.  He went out and did his job every day, put his own life in danger, and, unfortunately, you saw what happened."

But the star of the show was Taylor's daughter, Naomi. The child was supposed to pull a rope and slide the canvas cover off of the sign.  Instead, she yanked so hard that the rope broke.  One of Taylor's former partners then backed a squad car into place so the cover could be removed, to the cheers of the crowd of 200.

Homan Avenue sits between two schools, and Cline said he hopes that students notice the sign, ask about Taylor and can be taught about his life and death.

Drug suspect Lamar Cooper gunned down Taylor as the officer approached Cooper's car in September 2008. Cooper was found guilty and sentenced in March to life without hope of parole.

Taylor was a former Marine who served in Operation Desert Storm and was a Chicago Police officer for 14 years.

"The offender in this case is in prison for life," Supt. Garry McCarthy said.  "We're pretty pleased about that."