An ecumenical prayer service was held Tuesday at the Glen Ellyn Bible Church to mark National Police Week.
“It was a good mixture of police departments, civic organizations and the public and we hope that this was the first annual such event and that more will follow in the future,” said Chaplain Ron Yurcus, director of DuPage Ministries.
The countywide community group held the service to recognize the New York City officers who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other police agencies across the country.
“DuPage County was fortunate this past year to not have any line-of-duty deaths, but we must remember the 9/11 tragedy,” Yurcus said.
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“The feedback from those present Tuesday was very gratifying,” he said. “Police chiefs from all over the county were very supportive.”
DuPage County Forest Preserve District Police Chief Tim Curtin gave the keynote address on how the police and the community can work together.
President John F. Kennedy designated the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week in 1961.
Events are being held nationwide, including in Washington D.C., where there is a National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Yurcus has contacted the DuPage Fire Chiefs Association and said he hopes for a similar service honoring firefighters in October.
Scholarship: The DuPage County Bar Foundation has awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Sara Sandusky of Woodridge, a University of Illinois law student.
Sandusky is the ninth recipient of the Hartman Stime Scholarship, named for a longtime DuPage County attorney who performed many years of pro-bono work and community service.
She is a graduate of Lawrence University in Wisconsin and is currently on the U. of I. law school dean’s list. The foundation is the charitable arm of the DuPage County Bar Association.
Kane deputy honored: Kane County Sheriff’s Sgt. Thomas Rosebush is to receive the 2002 Illinois State Bar Association Law Enforcement Award Thursday for assisting residents of Aurora Township.
Rosebush will be honored during a Kane County Chiefs of Police meeting.
Kane County State’s Atty. Meg Gorecki, who nominated Rosebush for one of the seven statewide bar association awards, said Rosebush has helped organize the Hill Avenue Business Association, Northeast Neighbors Association, Farnsworth Avenue Business Association and TRAID senior citizen groups.
Kane County Sheriff Ken Ramsey said Rosebush “has a tremendous work ethic and serves as a model for those serving under him.”
Holiday patrols: Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer travel season. DuPage Sheriff John Zaruba said his office is increasing traffic patrols for two weeks with the help of a $42,000 grant from the federal government.
The funds will be used to hire sheriff’s deputies during the holiday period to enforce speed laws.
Zaruba said deputies would focus on three county locations that the patrol division believes need extra attention. He did not specify the locations.