City of West Chicago, Illinois

Where History and Progress Meet

Skip NavigationMenu
  • Explore West Chicago
    • About West Chicago
      • Community Profile
      • History of West Chicago
      • Environmental Stewardship
        • Environmental Partners
        • Environmental Initiatives
        • Pollinator Programs
        • Prairie Stewardship
        • Water Quality
        • Local Champions
        • Close
      • Close
    • Places to Visit
      • West Chicago Prairie
      • West Chicago City Museum
      • Gallery 200
      • Close
    • Things to Do
      • Walking & Biking Trails
      • Family Activities & Destinations
      • Public Art
        • Community Art Banner Project
        • Signa Rotae
        • In This Together
        • Mural by Juan Chawuk
        • “loveevenmore”
        • Forever Lily
        • Sesquicentennial Mural
        • Trinita
        • Wood Spirits
        • Remembering 9/11
        • WCTU Fountain
        • Close
      • Close
    • Annual Special Events
      • West Chicago Food Festival
      • Frosty 5K and Frosty Fest
      • Mexican Independence Day Festival
      • Blooming Fest
      • Close
    • Community Partners
      • West Chicago Public Library
      • West Chicago Park District
      • DuPage County Forest Preserve
      • Close
    • Close
  • Residents
    • Water & Sewer Billing
    • Garbage & Recycling
      • Garbage & Recycling Billing
      • Yard Waste Collection
      • Bulk Item Collection Event
      • Leaf Collection Events
      • Brush Collection Program
      • Close
    • Services & Programs
      • Animal Control
      • Rain Barrel Program
      • Snow Removal
      • Close
    • Healthy West Chicago
    • Residential Forms & Applications
    • Summer Lawn Sprinkling Restrictions
    • West Chicago Metra Station
      • Metra Lot Parking
      • Bicycle Locker Rental
      • Close
    • West Chicago Cemetery Information
    • Helpful Links
      • Links to Community Organizations
      • West Chicago Municipal Aggregation Program
      • Close
    • Welcome to West Chicago Brochure (pdf)
    • Close
  • Business
    • Existing Businesses
      • Assistance & Support
      • Business Registration Renewal
      • Zoning
      • Permits
      • Specialty Business Licenses
      • Forms and Applications
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Close
    • New Businesses
      • Steps to Opening a New Business
      • Operating A Business From Your Home
      • Close
    • Incentives & Programs
    • Economic Development Portal
    • Close
  • Government
    • Meeting Minutes & Agendas
    • Elected Officials
      • Mayor Ruben Pineda
      • City Council
      • City Clerk
      • Committees
      • Close
    • Commissions
      • Civil Service Commission
      • Cultural Arts Commission
      • Environmental Commission
      • Historical Preservation Commission
      • Liquor Control/Tobacco Commission
      • Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
      • Close
    • City Departments
      • Organizational Chart
      • Administration
      • Administrative Services
      • Community Development
      • Police
      • Public Works
      • Close
    • Elections & Voting
      • Find Your Polling Place
      • Elections & Voting
      • Close
    • Municipal Code
      • Code Catalog
      • Property Maintenance Standards
      • FAQs
      • Close
    • Transparency Portal
    • Close
  • QUICK LINKS
    • E-Pay
    • Bid Postings
    • Job Opportunities
    • Obtain a Building Permit
    • FOIA Requests
    • Property Maintenance / Code Enforcement Brochure
    • Buying/Selling a Home
    • Social Services Resource Guide
    • Close

Police Memorial

Police-Memorial_236Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Michael J. Browning (1968-1992)
On April 20, 1992, while responding to a burglary in progress at a local car dealership, Browning was struck by a stolen car driven by Ronald Alvine.  Officer Browning had been on the force less than a year.

Raymond G. Wilson (1922-1965)
Wilson was serving as a special policeman on July 25, 1965, at a fire department carnival at Reed-Keppler Park.  Guadalupe Ruel shot Wilson with his own revolver.

George Riehm (1864-1921)
Goerge Riehm was the first West Chicago Police officer killed in the line of duty.  On April 29, 1921 he was shot while investigating a burglary at a local lumberyard.  The alleged murderer, James Witt, was apprehended, but committed suicide before charges were brought against him.


“A Part of America Died”

Somebody killed a policeman today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
will be buried with him at his side.

The beat that he walked
was a battlefield, too,
just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our nation
won’t fly at half-mast,
to his name they will add a gold star.

The suspect that shot him
will stand up in court
with counsel demanding his rights.
While a young, widowed mother
must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely nights.

Yes, somebody killed a policeman today…
maybe in your town or mine.
While we slept in comfort
behind our locked doors
a cop put his life on the line.

Now his ghost walks the beat
on a dark city street,
and he stands at each new rookie’s side.
He answered the call, of himself he gave all,
and a part of America died.

e-Pay logo and link

West Chicago City Hall
475 Main Street
West Chicago, IL 60185

Phone: 630-293-2200
FAX: 630-293-3028

REQUEST

  • Business Forms
  • Resident Forms
  • Elections & Voting Info
  • FOIA
  • LexisNexis eCrash
  • Permits and Applications
  • Utility Services
  • Overnight Parking
  • Citizen Online Reporting
  • Vacation Watch

VIEW

  • GIS Maps
  • Job Opportunities
  • Metra Lot Parking
  • Municipal Code
  • Newsletters
  • Transparency Portal
  • Quest Bid System
  • West Chicago on YouTube

STAY UP-TO-DATE

  • Join Our Emailing List
  • Police News
  • Latest News Releases
  • Blogs
  • Community Calendar (Desktop)
  • Community Calendar (Mobile)
  • Media Center
  • INTERNAL EMAIL

Copyright 2022 © - City of West Chicago, Illinois - All rights reserved - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Legal Disclaimer
Site by Technivista