May 06--Aurora has announced a number of activities for National Police Week May 15 to 21.
This is the 20th year the police department and city are celebrating the week, which has been observed nationally since President John F. Kennedy's 1962 proclamation that designated the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. The same proclamation named May 15 as National Police Officer's Memorial Day to honor those officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
The local celebration of Police Week culminates May 21 when the community is invited to the Aurora Police Department's annual Memorial Ceremony which will salute current and former police officers.
The day will begin at 10 a.m. in the Memorial Plaza outside the Aurora Police Department's Headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail, with a service dedicated to the memories of Alfred Olin and Thompson Richardson, the only two Aurora police officers ever killed in the line of duty. Also memorialized will be three Aurora police officers who passed away since last year's police week: Retired Capt. Lou "Duke" Beatus, Cmdr. Joe Groom and Sgt. Don Corp. The Aurora Police Honor Guard will stage formations and a gun salute during the ceremony and the Pipes and Drums of the Aurora police will also perform.
In addition, the names of officers who have retired will be officially unveiled on the Aurora Police Service Wall. The wall honors Aurora Police Department employees who retired after 20, 25, and 30 years of service.
Following the ceremony, a vintage baseball game will be played under the original rules established in the 1800s between the Aurora Town Club -- a team consisting of Aurora police officers -- and the Lemont Quarrymen at Simmons Park across from the police headquarters. Food will be available for purchase courtesy of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
On May 17, the annual Exchange Club of Aurora Police Officer of the Year Luncheon will be staged at 11:30 a.m. at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road in Aurora. Four Aurora police officers are nominated for the award that celebrates actions that go above and beyond the call of their duties.
Prior to the formal celebration of Police Week at 6:30 p.m., May 11, the Kane County Chiefs of Police will hold its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony at the Mooseheart Church of God on Route 31 between North Aurora and Batavia. The non-denominational service will feature a candlelight vigil to honor Kane County officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
The guest speaker at the event will be retired police officer and licensed clinical psychologist Karen Koch, who is now the director of the Forensic Psychology Program at Adler University in Chicago. Koch has also taught at the Police Training Institute, National-Louis University and Moraine Valley Community College. She was a police officer in Oak Forest from 1976 to 2002. She also volunteers her time with officers who have been injured in the line of duty through the Chicago Police Survivors group, event organizers said.
For information on any of the activities, call 630-256-5008.
