Officer Killed in 019

Officer Richard Francis, 60, shot and killed with his own weapon around 0200 AM this morning.

• A 27-year veteran Chicago police officer was shot and killed by a woman who grabbed his gun during a struggle outside a police headquarters on the North Side early Wednesday morning, Supt. Jody Weis said.
  
  Officers who responded to the scene at Belmont and Western Avenues around 2 a.m., then shot the woman several times, critically wounding her, authorities said.
  
  Belmont District Officer Richard Francis, 60, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center and pronounced dead just before 3 a.m., the Cook County medical examiner's office said. The unidentified woman was at the same hospital being treated early this morning.

Thoughts and prayers ONLY for Officer Francis, his family and the 019th District in this thread. All others will be deleted without fail.

God bless Officer Francis.

UPDATE: We meant what we said in the above paragraph. NO second guessing, NO blaming, and certainly NOTHING for the killer of our brother.

Guilty

Closure:

• The family of Chicago police Officer Richard Francis dropped their heads Wednesday night as they heard a jury had convicted a woman with a reported history of mental illness of the veteran police officer’s 2008 murder.
  
  Jurors deliberated for about five hours before finding Robin Johnson, 50, guilty of first-degree murder of Francis. That carries an automatic life sentence, along with aggravated discharge of a firearm toward another police officer.

Thanks to everyone who showed up. Rest in peace Officer Francis.

PO Francis Editorial

Better late than never?

• The funeral is over and, in a city this big and busy, so is the public conversation. Police Officer Richard "Buzz" Francis has been mourned at an official memorial celebrating his life and his sacrifice. Much of Chicago has moved on. Not that anyone intends disrespect, mind you. It's just that each day brings new joys and tragedies, and vacation weeks beckon, and baseball's All-Star Game is nigh, and . . . well, you know how it goes.
  
  That is not, though, how it goes in thousands of anxious households where the loved ones of city and suburban police officers relentlessly dread the ring of the phone, the knock at the door. Many of those families never before have been this close to what they saw and heard and felt in the past few days. They had not before witnessed the pageantry, but also the premature finality, of Monday's full honors funeral.

The whole thing is a lengthy read, but worth it.

Also, this info coming in the comment sections:

• The Richard M. Francis Benefit Fund has been set up and anyone interested in donating can send their donations to
  The Chicago Patrolmen's Credit Union
  5310 N. Harlem Avenue
  Chicago Il, 60656

Sentencing Hearing

From a friend:

• The sentencing and victim impact statement in the trial for the killer of Chicago Police Officer Richard Francis #5276, End of Watch 02 July 2008 at 0153 hours, is set for 05 February 2014 (Wednesday) at 1000 hours. All officers are encouraged to attend the proceedings at 26th and California, room 302. The judge has asked that all officers wear a covering over their police uniform while in the court room.

If you're in the building, swing by.

Funeral Arrangements Set

From various posters:

• Police Officer Richard M. Francis, Star #5276, assigned to the 019th District, was killed in the Line of Duty on Tuesday, 2 July 2008.
  
  Waked at Cooney Funeral Home, 3918 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois on Sunday 6 July 2008 from 1200 - 2100 hours. UPDATE: St. Jude 1900hrs
  
  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, 1359 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607.
  
  Funeral services held on Monday, 7 July 2008 at 1100 hours at St. Monica Church, 5136 N. Nottingham Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Interment private.

Does this mean that the usual three or four mile procession to the cemetery has been eliminated?

Candlelight Vigil Tonight

Always a moving experience:

• Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 1930 hours the Chicago Police Department and citizens of Chicago will honor the dedication and courage of police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
• This year's ceremony is dedicated to Officer Richard M. Francis, whose tour ended on July 2, 2008.
• The ceremony will take place at Gold Star Families Memorial Park. The park is located just East of Soldier Field.

Pictures from the event can be mailed to us (e-mail address in the profile page) and we'll see if we can't post a couple.