Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette for a sidebar about the progress of the construction on the new memorial. - A Police  Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
with Thilmony story-J.G.Towsend delivers the keynote speech. A Police and Fire Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
with Thilmony story-The Champaign Police Honor Guard at the ceremony. A Police and Fire Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
with Thilmony story-Rodney Mitchell plays the bagpipes at the ceremony. A Police and Fire Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
with Thilmony story-Lawrence Tatman, father of fallen police officer Robert Tatman. A Police and Fire Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Vanda Bidwell

Vanda Bidwell/ The News Gazette
with Thilmony story-Champaign police chief Anthony Cobb speaks. A Police and Fire Memorial Service at West Side Park in Champaign thursday at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker was retired judge J.G. Townsend, with remarks by Mayor Don Gerard and Police Chief Anthony Cobb. photo taken thursday May 17, 2012

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Members of the Danville Police Honor Guard fire a rifle salute during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Local officers salute during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Vermilion County Sheriff's Department presents the colors during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Jeff Palmer plays "Amazing Graze" after Vermilion County Sheriff's Department deputy Ryan Goodner play taps during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Members of the Danville Police Honor Guard stand at attention as police chaplain Michael Wescomb open with prayer during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Vermilion County Sheriff's Department presents the colors during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Vermilion County Sherrif Pat Hartshorn, leads Danville Police officer Nathan Howie, and Public Safety Director Larry Thomason away after presenting wreaths at the Fallen Heros memorial during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Rick Danzl

Vermilion County Sheriff's Department retire the colors during the Police Memorial Service at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville Thursday May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Members of the Honor Guard are saluted by officers from local police departments at the start of a a memorial service honoring fallen officers in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Ashley Giberson, choir director of Unity High School in Tolono, directs her young singers during a
police memorial service in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Retired Champaign County Judge J.G. Townsend serves as keynote speaker at a police memorial in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Alec Keeler, a Champaign Centennial High School sophomore, plays Taps as Michelle Ortiz, of the University of Illinois police department and Honor Guard, stands at attention during a police memorial service in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012. Keeler's Centennial classmate, Will Small, not pictured, also played Taps.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Champaign County Sheriff's Dan Walsh, far left, State's Attorney Julia Rietz and Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb, far right, attend a memorial service honoring fallen police officers in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Bagpiper Rodney Mitchell, left, a member of the University of Illinois Police Department, talks with Champaign police officer, Shane Standifer before the start of a police memorial service in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Urbana Police Department's Chief Patrick Connolly attends a memorial service for fallen officers in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois State Police Sgt. William Emery, who is just nine days shy of retirement, attends a police memorial in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Members of the Honor Guard, from left, Michelle Ortiz, of the UI Police Department, Rolla Dolph and Mark Maidens, both Champaign County Sheriff, and Matt Rivers, of the Urbana Police Department, help conclude the police memorial service in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Champaign Police Lt. Dave Shaffer salutes with fellow local police at a memorial service in front of the Champaign County Courthouse in downtown Urbana on Thursday, May 17, 2012.