EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Only one police officer has died in the line of duty in the history of the East Peoria Police Department.
On Thursday afternoon, that officer was honored as part of a memorial ceremony at the Festival Building.
Officer Henry Kounse was shot and killed by a gang member on Feb. 10th, 1931. Kounse was a patrolman in his third year with the East Peoria Police Department when he died at the age of 40.
Current Police Chief David Catton says it’s important to keep Kounse’s memory and story alive, as a reminder of the sacrifice he gave.
“It’s a good light to shine for these younger officers to be able to see that sacrifice,” Catton said.
The ceremony also marked the recent passing of Detective Bob Vester, who passed away last month after suffering a heart attack. Catton says there were heavy hearts during the ceremony because of that, but knew that Vester was “looking down on us and proud of it.”
Following the memorial, East Peoria Police conducted its annual awards ceremony.
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