Q.P.D. to Hold a New Police Memorial Dedication Ceremony Friday

Since its inception, the Quincy Police Department has had five officers die in the line of duty. The memorial honoring those fallen officers stood in front of the Quincy Police Department at 110 South 8th Street since its original dedication on October 22, 1999.

Not only was the intent of this memorial to honor those lost, but it was positioned so as to remind Quincy police officers on a daily basis to be vigilant against the inherent dangers of their profession.

When the Police headquarters were moved recently from the basement of City Hall, the original memorial stone was moved to their new facility at 530 Broadway. It was erected in a new Quincy Police Memorial.

The Quincy Police Department would like to unveil the stone and two new plaques in the memorial at a dedication ceremony this Friday, August 28th, at 9:00 a.m. The Quincy Police Memorial is located outside the Quincy Police Department entrance at 530 Broadway.

The public is welcomed to be at the ceremony and those attending are asked to wear a mask or face covering and social distance as well. During the ceremony the Q.P.D. will be recognizing and thanking those responsible for the Quincy Police Memorial.  They include the following:

• For making the original memorial possible: Sergeant John Douglas (retired), Chief Michael DeVoss (retired), and Gem City Memorials.
• For organizing the committee to build/move the new memorial: Deputy Chief Shannon Pilkington.
• For making the new memorial possible through donations of time, work, and materials: The Ladies of the Blue Knights, J.H. Concrete Construction Inc., Quincy Regional Crime Stoppers, Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, We in Quincy, IL, Back the Blue, Gem City Memorials, and Schneider Electric.
• For donating the time and talents in creating the new plaques: Gem City
• Memorials, Charlie Martin, and Sterling Awards and Engraving.

One person who unfortunately won't be there in person, but will be there in spirit, is Frank Haxel. Frank worked tirelessly to raise funds for the new display.  He passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.