The Illinois Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors Illinois (C.O.P.S.) will hold its 19th annual Cycle Across Illinois charity bike ride this week. The ride supports the Illinois families of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The over 340-mile ride begins in Springfield tomorrow morning and ends in Rosemont on Sunday afternoon. Each day, the group will observe dedications to several officers who have died in the line of duty. Eighty riders and several support vehicles will be making the trek. The ride will reach Fulton County late Thursday morning where a dedication to Fulton County Deputy Troy Chisum will be held at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Lewistown. The dedication for Deputy Chisum will be held just before noon. The ride will then head to the Fairview Fire Protection District and then the Maquon Fire Department. The ride will reach Galesburg Thursday night around 7:00 pm and ends at Knox College with a dedication ceremony for Knox County Deputy Nick Weist. Last year, there were 234 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in the U.S. and seven in the state of Illinois. For more information on the ride, visit www.ilcops.net.
