CHICAGO, IL - A number of community organizations and businesses have come together to help support the family of fallen Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew.
Residents of the Albany Park neighborhood stopped by the 17th Police District, where Bartholomew worked, taking a moment to appreciate the growing memorial that is outside the doors, WGNTV reported.
"I feel bad for them that he comes out here to serve and protect people, and he gets shot just out of the blue,” resident Lisa Duty said.
Brendan O'Brien, owner of Reilly's Daughter, a bar in Oak Lawn, said he is preparing for a big fundraiser for the fallen officer's family.
"As much as we don’t enjoy doing this, it’s a great thing when the community comes out to support a fallen first responder,” O’Brien said. “I’ve talked to a couple of my friends who are CPD officers who knew him personally and said he’s a great individual. Going off what they’re saying, I’m sure he was a great guy. It’s just tragic to lose anybody, but in the way he passed is just terrible."
On Friday, May 1, t-shirts will be for sale at the bar for $25. Once those sell out, there will be an online store where people can purchase them. "We hope to be in the thousands [of dollars], obviously by the end. That will go 100% directly to his family,” O’Brien said. His customers said that the bar has done this type of fundraiser for fallen first responders numerous times in the past.
"The O’Brien family has done this for literally every first responder over the course of how many years. I have a whole collection of t-shirts that reflects that,” customer Matt Nelligan said. “This one was for a firefighter that fell in the line of duty…I have friends and family who are firemen. My father was a policeman, both sides of my family, a lot of policemen. It’s definitely for a good cause when something tragic like this happens."
Bartholomew, 38, was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. He leaves behind a wife, a three-year-old daughter, and two stepsons.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation described Bartholomew as an upbeat, kindhearted, enthusiastic person who eagerly volunteered for assignments and always looked forward to going home at the end of his shift to his family.
"It’s nice to see people coming together in times of tragedy. It shows how much the people in Chicago and surrounding areas care and come together,” O’Brien said.
Residents of the Albany Park neighborhood stopped by the 17th Police District, where Bartholomew worked, taking a moment to appreciate the growing memorial that is outside the doors, WGNTV reported.
"I feel bad for them that he comes out here to serve and protect people, and he gets shot just out of the blue,” resident Lisa Duty said.
Brendan O'Brien, owner of Reilly's Daughter, a bar in Oak Lawn, said he is preparing for a big fundraiser for the fallen officer's family.
"As much as we don’t enjoy doing this, it’s a great thing when the community comes out to support a fallen first responder,” O’Brien said. “I’ve talked to a couple of my friends who are CPD officers who knew him personally and said he’s a great individual. Going off what they’re saying, I’m sure he was a great guy. It’s just tragic to lose anybody, but in the way he passed is just terrible."
On Friday, May 1, t-shirts will be for sale at the bar for $25. Once those sell out, there will be an online store where people can purchase them. "We hope to be in the thousands [of dollars], obviously by the end. That will go 100% directly to his family,” O’Brien said. His customers said that the bar has done this type of fundraiser for fallen first responders numerous times in the past.
"The O’Brien family has done this for literally every first responder over the course of how many years. I have a whole collection of t-shirts that reflects that,” customer Matt Nelligan said. “This one was for a firefighter that fell in the line of duty…I have friends and family who are firemen. My father was a policeman, both sides of my family, a lot of policemen. It’s definitely for a good cause when something tragic like this happens."
Bartholomew, 38, was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. He leaves behind a wife, a three-year-old daughter, and two stepsons.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation described Bartholomew as an upbeat, kindhearted, enthusiastic person who eagerly volunteered for assignments and always looked forward to going home at the end of his shift to his family.
"It’s nice to see people coming together in times of tragedy. It shows how much the people in Chicago and surrounding areas care and come together,” O’Brien said.
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