19th Ward To Hold Prayer Vigil For CPD and Ofcr. Ella French

CHICAGO — The 19th Ward will host a prayer vigil in support of the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The vigil will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at the 22nd District-Morgan Park Police Station, 1900 Monterey Ave., Chicago.

Kimberly Lewis-Davis from the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry, will lead the community in prayer starting at 6:30 p.m. Phil Cline, executive director of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, will also speak. Prayers will be said CPD Ofcr. Ella French and for the recovery of her grievously injured partner, who continues to fight for his life.

“As Chicago mourns this weekend's senseless tragedies, our community will come together in support our officers and their families,” Ald. Matt O’Shea said in an email to residents. “The Chicago Police Department is under siege; now more than ever officers need our respect, appreciation and gratitude for their dedicated service.”

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is also providing financial and emotional support to both officers’ families, to help in the near term and ease the burden of their loss. The funds that enable the foundation to provide this kind of support come directly from current and former Chicago police officers, businesses and individuals.

"The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation will ‘Never Forget’ this brave Chicago Police Officer."

To date, 38 Chicago police officers have been shot at or shot while working to protect our city thus far this year. Approximately 11 officers have been shot, with Ofcr. French being the first killed in the line of duty in 2021. In 2020, 79 officers were shot at or shot while in the line of duty.