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Fallen law enforcement honored at Belleville memorial service
BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat
Forty-two fallen law enforcement officers were honored Tuesday morning as part of the 27th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service.
St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl Justus lead the ceremony that began at 9 a.m. outside the St. Clair County Jail in Belleville. A procession of police cars from Grace Church in Fairview Heights began the event.
"There is no greater service than to protect one's community," said keynote speaker A. Courtney Cox, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
Deputy Justin Biggs, named officer of the year, and Acting Sgt. Xavier Blackburn, correctional officer of the year, read the names of fallen officers as those in uniform laid red flowers in front of the stone memorial outside of the jail.
Added this year was an overlooked Belleville Police officer who died Sept. 27, 1930. Officer John N. "Jack" Schildroth, 28, left behind two young children and a wife when he died chasing a speeder on his motorcycle.
