Ex-Riverside Chief Survived Shooting Early In Career

RIVERSIDE, IL – Riverside's former police chief, who survived a shooting early in his career, was recently honored by a national group.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has made former Chief Tom Weitzel one of its ambassadors.

In a story on its website, the memorial fund documented how a suspect shot Weitzel in August 1987, three years after he became a Riverside officer. He suffered injuries to his face and upper torso, according to the memorial fund.

Years later, authorities figured out who the shooter was. But the seven-year statute of limitations had expired. So the man was not charged.

Weitzel worked to end the statute of limitations in such situations. He convinced the late Republican state Sen. Judy Barr Topinka to lead the successful legislative effort to do away with the limits, according to the fund.

With the ambassador's position, Weitzel said in a statement to the memorial fund, "It is my hope that I will serve in a capacity that will better facilitate police agencies, officers, and family throughout the State of Illinois with line-of-duty-deaths, the Memorial and Museum, and Officer Safety and Wellness."

He will serve as the ambassador for the entire state.