Fallen police, firefighters to be honored

The Coal City Police Department, in partnership with the Grundy County Law Enforcement Managers Association (GCLEMA), will host the county’s annual police and fire memorial service on Thursday, May 16.
The ceremony is being held in conjunction with National Police Week, May 12-18. The observance offers the public an opportunity to reflect on the individuals within their communities who gave the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the lives of others.
The local ceremony will serve to honor the sacrifices of patrolman Clarence Roseland and marshal Enoch T. Hopkins of the Morris Police Department and the service of Morris firefighter James K. Allen and Channahon firefighter Kenneth J. Frayne.
The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. on the grounds of the Grundy County Courthouse, 111 E. Washington St.. Morris.
Jeff Chudwin, retired chief of the Olympia Fields Police Department, is the featured speaker. In addition to his 38 years of service to Olympia Fields, he served as a patrol officer in the village of Peotone and was an assistant state’s attorney in Will and Cook counties.
Coal City Police Sgt. Chris Harseim, the current president of the GCLEMA, noted Chudwin has a storied career in law enforcement. He is a founding member of the Illinois Tactical Officers Association and the statewide Law Enforcement Mutual Aid System known as ILEAS.
Chudwin has served as co-chair of the Terroism/Emergency Preparation Committee of the South Cook County Suburban Chiefs of Police Association and South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and has worked as a training officer specializing in legal and policy issues related to officer-involved shootings and has represented officers involved in high-level use of force incidents.
Harseim will provide opening and closing remarks. Prayers will be extended by Pastor Steve Larson, chaplain for the Grundy County Sheriff’s office and Morris Police Department and Fire Protection District.
The Grundy County Honor Guard will also participate, as will the Joliet Police Pipes and Drums and local student vocalists Riley Nevin and Jessica Leasure.
GCLEMA is comprised of each of the county’s police departments—Coal City, Morris, Minooka, Mazon, Channahon and sheriff’s office, as well as the Illinois State Police, Grundy County State’s Attorney and Coroner’s officers, Grundy County Emergency Management Agency, the county’s probation office, Tri-River Training MTU 16 and ILEAS.
Harseim said the public is invited and encouraged to take part in the ceremony.