Family members, supporters and law enforcement personnel gathered on a chilly Wednesday outside the Cook County courthouse in Bridgeview to designate a section of 76th Avenue as Honorary James F. Knapp Way.
“Jim Knapp was a police officer who dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Cook County for 16 years before his life was tragically cut short,” said Cook County sheriff’s police Chief Arthur Jackson. “Police Officer James F. Knapp was a husband, a son, a father, a brother and a friend.”
Knapp, a sheriff’s police officer, was killed in a car accident Jan. 4, 2006, at 100th Place and 76th Avenue, while on his way to the Bridgeview courthouse, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He was 50 years old.
Knapp’s wife, Grace Knapp, was presented with a copy of the commemorative street sign.
“This is one of the most beautiful days of my life,” she said. “God bless you all, and all of you officers, please, always be safe.”
Knapp’s son, James Knapp Jr., thanked the assembled law enforcement officers for their service.
“The most fitting thing about this memorial, I heard it so many times from my dad. He said that if something ever happened to him, nobody would remember him,” he said. “I hope he sees how many people in this family care so much for him.”
Knapp’s nephew, Shawn Knapp, a sheriff’s detective, set the dedication process in motion last year when talking with a deputy chief.
“I said, ‘Chicago’s got honorary streets, state police has bridges. We should try and get something done.’ That’s all it took,” Knapp said.
Knapp said he joined the department 19 years ago.
“I started right after he passed away,” he said.
The street was dedicated by a resolution from the Cook County Board, which Jackson read aloud.
“The loss of Officer Knapp represents not only the loss of a dedicated public servant, but also a profound sacrifice made by his family, colleagues, and the broader Cook County community,” the resolution read.
Jason Hernandez, director of governmental affairs for the Cook County sheriff’s office, said once the process of dedicating the street was put into motion, things moved quickly.
“It’s a wound that’s never healed, but it’s still a time when many of our officers who are still working remember him, remember his legacy and have relationships with the family of the departed,” Hernandez said.
The company that made the commemorative street signs put other work on hold, Hernandez said.
“We came to them with an expedited timetable and a request to get three of these signs fabricated in short order,” Hernandez said. “I’m pretty sure they stopped everything they were doing to accommodate that request.”
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The dedicated section of 76th Avenue runs along the courthouse property from 100th Place to 103rd Street.
“It’s our goal to make sure that, even though it’s been 20 years, James Knapp is not forgotten,” said Michael McTigue, vice president of Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors, which provides support to family members of police officers killed in the line of duty.