Post by CCADP on Jun 24, 2005 14:32:10 GMT -5
Crossing the state to raise awareness
Bicyclists gather money while honoring memories of fallen police officers
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Friday, June 24, 2005
By KEVIN SAMPIER
of the Journal Star
KEWANEE - A bike ride that stretches across the state is raising money and awareness for families that have lost a police officer in the line of duty, and for one area family it means remembrance.
"Thank God we've got guys like this who enjoy doing what they're doing and put forth the effort," Al Streicher said of the bicyclists and members of the Concerns of Police Survivors group.
The new state chapter of COPS organized the bicycle ride, which will take the 12 riders on a 300-mile journey from the Mississippi River in Rock Island to Lake Michigan in Chicago to raise money for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
Al and Laurie Streicher's son, Adam Streicher, was killed on March 22, 2002.
Streicher, 23, a Stark County deputy, was gunned down by Curtis Thompson when he attempted to serve the Toulon man with an outstanding warrant. Thompson went on to kill two other people that same night and is on death row at Pontiac Correctional Center.
The Streichers helped form the Illinois COPS chapter and held the first COPS meeting last January at their home.
The riders stayed with the Streicher family on Thursday night in Kewanee and planned to visit Adam's grave today for a moment of silence before riding to Toulon, Wyoming and Peoria.
"We're just honored," Laurie Streicher said of the support group's decision to stay at her home. "I think it's great. It's a way to get the awareness out that we have an Illinois chapter."
The national organization is based in Camdenton, Mo.
The Streichers' work with the state chapter includes fund-raisers, attending survivors' meetings and helping new members cope with the loss of a relative.
The riders began the trek by dipping their back wheels into the Mississippi River before leaving Rock Island at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday after a ceremony at the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
By the afternoon, the bikers rode in 95-degree weather raising money for the families of 10 officers who have been killed recently in Illinois.
Mark Hannan organized the ride and said more than $6,000 has been collected so far.
"The hills, the heat and the sun are really insignificant compared to what these people have suffered," Hannan said.
Thursday had special meaning for many of the riders because it marked the anniversary of Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot's death.
Talbot, 50, of rural Cambridge was killed June 23, 2001, after being dragged to death by a man he was trying to arrest at a routine roadside check point, Hannan said.
The riders will pass through Peoria today where they will stop at the Peoria Police Department Memorial on Fulton Street for a small ceremony to honor Peoria police Officer Cristy Tindall, who was killed in a car crash last December.
Peoria police Officer Doug Burgess said the event will be held between 1 and 3 p.m., depending on the riders' speed, and an appearance by the mayor and police chief is expected.
Sunday the riders will visit the Will County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial before riding to the Chicago Police Department's Memorial near Soldier Field.
The riders will complete the journey by dipping their front wheels into Lake Michigan.
"It's quite a group," Laurie Streicher said. "We kind of just bond together and need each other. I guess that's what life's all about."
Bicyclists gather money while honoring memories of fallen police officers
Advertisement
Friday, June 24, 2005
By KEVIN SAMPIER
of the Journal Star
KEWANEE - A bike ride that stretches across the state is raising money and awareness for families that have lost a police officer in the line of duty, and for one area family it means remembrance.
"Thank God we've got guys like this who enjoy doing what they're doing and put forth the effort," Al Streicher said of the bicyclists and members of the Concerns of Police Survivors group.
The new state chapter of COPS organized the bicycle ride, which will take the 12 riders on a 300-mile journey from the Mississippi River in Rock Island to Lake Michigan in Chicago to raise money for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
Al and Laurie Streicher's son, Adam Streicher, was killed on March 22, 2002.
Streicher, 23, a Stark County deputy, was gunned down by Curtis Thompson when he attempted to serve the Toulon man with an outstanding warrant. Thompson went on to kill two other people that same night and is on death row at Pontiac Correctional Center.
The Streichers helped form the Illinois COPS chapter and held the first COPS meeting last January at their home.
The riders stayed with the Streicher family on Thursday night in Kewanee and planned to visit Adam's grave today for a moment of silence before riding to Toulon, Wyoming and Peoria.
"We're just honored," Laurie Streicher said of the support group's decision to stay at her home. "I think it's great. It's a way to get the awareness out that we have an Illinois chapter."
The national organization is based in Camdenton, Mo.
The Streichers' work with the state chapter includes fund-raisers, attending survivors' meetings and helping new members cope with the loss of a relative.
The riders began the trek by dipping their back wheels into the Mississippi River before leaving Rock Island at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday after a ceremony at the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
By the afternoon, the bikers rode in 95-degree weather raising money for the families of 10 officers who have been killed recently in Illinois.
Mark Hannan organized the ride and said more than $6,000 has been collected so far.
"The hills, the heat and the sun are really insignificant compared to what these people have suffered," Hannan said.
Thursday had special meaning for many of the riders because it marked the anniversary of Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot's death.
Talbot, 50, of rural Cambridge was killed June 23, 2001, after being dragged to death by a man he was trying to arrest at a routine roadside check point, Hannan said.
The riders will pass through Peoria today where they will stop at the Peoria Police Department Memorial on Fulton Street for a small ceremony to honor Peoria police Officer Cristy Tindall, who was killed in a car crash last December.
Peoria police Officer Doug Burgess said the event will be held between 1 and 3 p.m., depending on the riders' speed, and an appearance by the mayor and police chief is expected.
Sunday the riders will visit the Will County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial before riding to the Chicago Police Department's Memorial near Soldier Field.
The riders will complete the journey by dipping their front wheels into Lake Michigan.
"It's quite a group," Laurie Streicher said. "We kind of just bond together and need each other. I guess that's what life's all about."