Connor Supports College Financial Aid for Families of Fallen Police Officers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Children and spouses of police officers who have died in the line of duty would be able to receive college scholarships and grants under legislation introduced in the House by state Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport.

“Police officers who put their lives on the line for the citizens of Illinois deserve to know that Illinois will take care of their families’ education costs if they are killed in the line of duty,” Connor said. “When an officer pays the ultimate price for our safety, we need to be there for their family.”

Connor is working to pass Senate Bill 1183, which uses money collected from the sale of police memorial license plates to fund college scholarships and grants for the children and spouses of officers killed in the line of duty. The bill in an initiative of the Police Memorial Committee, which since 1985 has collected funds for various recognitions of fallen officers, including a monument at the State Capitol bearing the name of officers killed while serving their communities. The bill received bipartisan support last month in the Senate.    

“There is no clearer way to pay respect to the service police officers do for our society than by ensuring their families are cared for,” Connor said. “No amount of money can fill the gap left by a fallen officer, but this is one way we can show our gratitude to the men and women who pay the ultimate price keeping our community safe.”