Bolingbrook Officer Steve Alexander, Family Die In Ireland

BOLINGBROOK, IL - The village of Bolingbrook is mourning the tragic loss of Bolingbrook Police Officer Steve Alexander and three of his family members, according to a news report by 1340 WJOL radio station. The Joliet radio station reported that Alexander, along with a brother and their parents were killed in a terrible crash in Ireland. The wreck was on a country road on the southeast coast of Ireland around 6:30 p.m. local time Monday. The family was in Ireland attending to a funeral, the Joliet radio station reported.

On Tuesday morning, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar told Patch that the village is still in the process of piecing together factual information about the Alexander family tragedy. Claar pointed out that the death of Officer Steve Alexander comes a month after Bolingbrook mourned the unexpected loss of Leroy Brown Sr., Bolingbrook's deputy mayor and long-time community icon.

"We're just coming off the unfortunate situation with Leroy Brown. It's not been a very good year here," Claar told Patch.

"This is out of left field for us. I've heard nothing but good things about (Alexander). He was a great guy, a popular guy, competent. He was a well-liked guy. We've lost a fine officer."

On Tuesday morning, the Bolingbrook Police Department issued a statement about the tragedy. The department said that Steve Alexander was 49 and a member of the police department the past 17 years.

"It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Officer Stephen Alexander, badge #1126. Steve was killed in an automobile crash in New Ross-Wexford, Ireland on December 4^th, 2017. Steve’s father Doug, mother Lily, and brother Doug Junior were also killed in the crash. The Alexander family was in Ireland to attend a family funeral. Steve was a proud father who left behind two daughters, age 11 and 10, who were his pride and joy."

Steve Alexander had an associates degree in criminal justice from the College of DuPage and he graduated from the Cook County Police Academy in 2001 as the class valedictorian, Bolingbrook noted.

"Steve also received the Top Marksmen award at the academy," his department pointed out.

Working for the Bolingbrook Police Department, "Steve was assigned to the Bolingbrook Park District as a park patrol officer. He was also an assistant team leader for the Raid Entry and Containment Team and was the lead department instructor in defensive tactics and use of force. Steve was also an instructor for firearms, rapid deployment, and breaching. Steve was a decorated Officer who had received numerous department commendations."

The department's press statement noted that Steve Alexander received a Life Saving Award in 2013 and the department's Top Gun Award and was nominated for Police Officer of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

"Steve devoted his time to the community and taught self-defense classes and self-confidence skills to women and girl scouts at the Bolingbrook Park District. Steve was a member of “Beat the Heat” a non-profit organization which focused on community outreach to improve driver safety and police community relations. He also enjoyed racing his vintage Camaro drag racing car and talking to children about vehicle and driving safety. Steve recently hosted and organized a Squad Car Night at the Bolingbrook Promenade in partnership with the Illinois Special Olympics which attracted police vehicles from all over the state. The event was concluded with a 'parade of lights,' a vehicle procession through the main street of the Promenade."

Long-time member of the Bolingbrook Police Department, Public Safety Director Ken Teppel, also issued some remarks about Alexander.

“Steve was an exemplary officer who took great pride in his law enforcement career and who devoted himself to protecting and serving the citizens of Bolingbrook. Steve will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him and we will forever keep the Alexander family in our thoughts and our prayers."

The Irish Times newspaper reported that the four Alexander relatives were killed during a collision between a car and a truck and all four were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred near New Ross. The parents were in their 70s and their sons in their 40s, the Irish paper reported.

Bolingbrook Mayor Claar said the fact Officer Alexander and his family were in Ireland to attend to a funeral "that makes it even worse." That the family traveled all the way to Ireland for the funeral shows that the person who died was somebody who had special significance to them, Claar said.

"It's a terrible situation for a family to all be killed," Claar said.

On Tuesday, the Bolingbrook Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 3005 posted the following message on its Facebook page: "Local 3005 is deeply saddened by the news that Bolingbrook Police Officer Steven Alexander was killed in a car accident in Ireland. We work side by side everyday with our brothers & sisters in blue and they become family. We will be keeping Officer Alexander’s family and The Bolingbrook Police Department in our thoughts and prayers."

Patch will bring you more information on this tragedy as it becomes available.

Images via Bolingbrook Police Department