Lausch Attends 40th Will County Law Enforcement Memorial Day

JOLIET, IL — More than 250 Joliet and Will County police officers and supporters gathered Thursday afternoon for a 20-minute service to mark the 40th Will County Law Enforcement Memorial Day.

The noon service took place at the Memorial Wall on the old Will County Courthouse lawn.

Among the 36 names engraved on the granite memorial are 10 who sacrificed their lives from the Illinois Department of Corrections, eight from the Joliet Police Department, five from the Will County Sheriff’s Department, five from the Illinois State Police, two from the Lockport Police Department, two from the Crest Hill Police Department, one from Frankfort police, Illinois Conservation police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Will County Probation Department, officials announced.

Channahon Deputy Chief of Police Adam Bogart, president of the police chief association of Will County, welcomed everyone as he introduced the memorial event's main speaker, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch.

Lausch is a Joliet native who became a star student-athlete at Joliet Catholic Academy before graduating from Harvard.

President Donald Trump appointed Lausch as Chicago's U.S. Attorney, and President Joe Biden has chosen to keep Lausch in that position.

"I had the great privilege and benefit of growing up here. I also want to take this opportunity to extend my greatest gratitude to the men and women that are here, or the family members, friends, work colleagues and other loved ones of the 36 officers who had their lives taken from them in the line of duty," Lausch told the crowd.

"There is no greater sacrifice, no greater sacrifice, than giving one's life to protect others. And that's what your family members did, your loved ones did. Due to their sacrifice and to your sacrifice as their family members, we are all much safer today ... please know that we will never ever forget them."