Beyond The Call Of Duty Remembers Local Officers Lost In Line Of Duty

HOMETOWN, IL — On the emotional one-year anniversary of Chicago Police Officer Ella French’s death, who was shot to death during a routine traffic stop, Beyond the Call of Duty’s mobile memorial stopped in Hometown to honor the 608 police officers across the country who died in the line of duty during 2021.

The End of Watch - Ride to Remember has been on the road since June 1, when it embarked from Spokane, Wash., on tribute stops to towns and cities across the country that suffered the loss of a first responder. Founded by Jagrut Shah, the organization’s purpose is to ensure that no officer is forgotten, that their families know their loved one has not been forgotten; and that there is recognition, support and understanding helping them heal.

The photo-wrapped trailer and volunteers were in the south suburbs Sunday, first stopping at the Chicago Heights police station in the morning, where Officer Gary Hibbs, 58, collapsed answering a domestic call. Hibbs, a 24-year veteran police officer, died eight days later on March 12, 2021.

The trailer and its contingent of Harleys arrived next at the Hometown Plaza, to honor Lt. James Kouski Jr., 58, a veteran Hometown police officer, whose end of watch came April 3, 2021, when he was struck by a drunken driver while investigating a separate traffic accident. A blue rose was placed next to his photo.

A steady drizzle fell on local residents and officers from various law enforcement agencies to take in the mobile memorial. Someone placed a rose by Lt. Kouski’s photograph.

Chicago police officers arrived and gathered in front of Officer French’s photograph, before the traveling memorial moved on to the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police lodge. Later Sunday, Officer French’s badge was retired and enshrined in Chicago Police Headquarters’ honored starcase, and her name added to the Chicago Police Memorial.

The EOW-Ride To Remember comprises volunteers from around the country, who help out with the whole ride or give a few weeks of their time during certain legs of the tour.

Law enforcement agencies that have lost an officer in the line of duty and families of fallen officers are contacted. This year, the EOW-Ride To Remember will travel 23,000 miles and make 268 stops to conduct tribute ceremonies before moving on to the next town. The ride will end back where it started in Spokane, Wash., after 79 days.

“It’s very emotional,” said Cynthia, a volunteer who currently resides in Nevada. “We want to make sure these men and women are remembered.”