2 fallen officers remembered on first anniversary of their deaths

Manuel Marmolejo looks at a portrait of his son, Chicago Police Officer Eduardo Marmolejo, who was chasing a man with a gun on the Far South Side last year, when he was struck and killed by a train. | Stefano Esposito/Sun-Times

Little Logan Conrad Gary wore a onesie that read: “My uncle is my hero.”

He fussed in his father’s arms as men and women stood three, four and five deep Monday inside a cinder block hall on the Far South Side. Bagpipes droned and a single candle flickered between framed portraits of Logan’s uncle, Chicago Police Officer Conrad Gary, and his fellow Calumet District colleague, Officer Eduardo Marmolejo.

Monday was the first anniversary of the deaths of Gary and Marmolejo, who were chasing a man with a gun on the Far South Side last year when they were struck by a train and killed.

“I never met them, but I know them,” interim Chicago Police Supt. Charlie Beck told the gathering, as family and friends of both officers looked on. “I know them because I’m the son of a cop, the father of three. I know them because I see their faces in their brothers who I met today. I know them because I see their character in the 13,000 men and women who share the badge that they wore.”

Both officers were married with children.

Calumet District Commander Joel Howard said the loss of Gary and Marmolejo has been tough on the other officers.

“This just really hit them hard,” Howard said. “These are officers they worked with day in and day out. These officers backed them up day in and day out on calls, and to have something like this happen is just tragic. These were two of our up and coming, fine officers who were out there doing what we expected them to do.”

Dave Gary holds his infant son, Logan Conrad Gary, on Monday at a ceremony for his brother, Chicago Police Officer Conrad Gary, and Officer Eduardo Marmolejo who were killed last year.