The 2026 Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony was held on May 7, 2026 in Springfield, honoring officers killed in the line of duty, including those lost in 2025. The annual event featured a procession, an interfaith service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and a ceremony at the Capitol with a wreath-laying to honor fallen heroes.
“Thank you to all who have served our community and made the ultimate sacrifice protecting families, and visitors to our state,” said Jacobs. “
The annual ceremony is held on the first Thursday in May at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the state Capitol grounds in Springfield, Illinois. A squad car procession began at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, followed by a memorial service honoring officers added to the memorial this year.
The ceremony honors Illinois law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and provides support for their families (survivors). The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee was established in 1985 to maintain the memorial and honor those killed in the line of duty.
During the ceremony, officials honored officers added to the memorial this year, including Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department, who died in the line of duty on June 5, 2025, and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department, who died on Dec. 3, 2025.
Historic honorees recognized during the 2026 ceremony included:
- Constable Isom Gillham
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office
- E.O.W. 12-11-1852
- Detective Frank McCaskey
- Belt Railway Company of Chicago Police Department
- E.O.W. 04-02-1918
- Special Agent Edward Fay
- Belt Railway Company of Chicago Police Department
- E.O.W. 11-22-1921
- Special Agent Alexander Lang
- Belt Railway Company of Chicago Police Department
- E.O.W. 09-17-1922
- Probationary Patrolman Benjamin Devlin
- Chicago Police Department
- E.O.W. 11-15-1922
- Deputy Lindley Larrison
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office
- E.O.W. 01-15-1925
- Deputy Sheriff Charles Monaghan
- Alexander County Sheriff’s Department
- E.O.W. 04-27-1936
2026 HISTORIC K-9 HONOREE
- K-9 Bear
- Illinois State Police
- E.O.W. 10-04-1987