To reach out to students in Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163, officers from the Park Forest Police Department started participating in friendly basketball games against the youngsters.
Police won the first game. But the undaunted students from Barack Obama School of Leadership and Stem in Chicago Heights and Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts in Park Forest rallied and trounced the officers during a second game on the night of March 18.
Sitting in the stands cheering on his fellow officers during that second game was Tim Jones, the rookie cop with the department who had played during the first game against students.
Just hours after the final whistle was blown, Jones was shot in the head early March 19 during a gunfight with a burglary suspect, shocking the south suburban community that has seen an uptick in violence in recent years.
For officers, the third game against Park Forest students Friday night at Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts was far more than a chance to encourage students with an increasingly competitive rivalry through the district’s X-STEAM program. Jones is recovering at a rehabilitation center from his critical wounds.
“If he could be here right now, whether playing or in the stands, I know he would be here,” said Park Forest Cpl. Julius Moore, team captain for the police department’s team.
In early April, the Park Forest Police Department announced that Jones was out of critical condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and would be transferred to a new, undisclosed facility to continue his recovery. Those close to Jones and his family — he is the son of Country Club Hills Police Chief William Jones — said the wounded officer is making “incredible gains” and is showing improvements since the shooting.
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T-shirts were being sold at last week’s game to help with Jones’ medical costs. A GoFundMe page in Jones’ name and community fundraising events since the shooting have raised more than $100,000.
Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, the victim of an assassination attempt on Jan. 8, 2011, met with Park Forest Police Chief Peter Green and Jones’ parents last week while she was in Chicago to lend support to a state gun bill.
Jones was shot three times March 19 during an exchange of gunfire that began when 21-year-old Thurman Reynolds allegedly drew a gun and opened fire on police, authorities said. Officers had responded to a break-in report at a vacant home in the 300 block of Neola Street when Reynolds, who was killed by police in the incident, starting shooting.
For the students, the X-STEAM programs offers engagement in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. It’s goal is to prepare students for the rigors of high school preparatory work for college or career readiness through homework help, tutoring and activities. The program serves more than 400 students elementary and middle school students.
The idea for the basketball element of the enrichment program grew out of a desire to draw student interest from the regular basketball program, said Renee Hawthorne, who runs the X-STEAM program.
“Our students in the after-school program really love basketball, so we were competing with the basketball program,” Hawthorne said.
The schools held a Support Officer Jones day ahead of Friday’s game. Green brought pizza for the students “hoping they would be sluggish,” Hawthorne joked.
Park Forest police were able to hammer out a win Friday 44-34, bringing the three game series to 2-1. Officials say that, regardless of who wins, the students benefit from the experience.
“The Park Forest Police Department has provided amazing support,” District 163 Superintendent Joyce Carmine said. “We’ve had a strong partnership with them for years.”