The Village of Oak Park will be hosting a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6 in the courtyard of Village Hall to mark the one-week anniversary of the slaying of police Det. Allan Reddins.
Police Chief Shatonya Johnson, village President Vicki Scaman and officials are expected to speak that night.
Reddins, 40, died at about 10:10 a.m. last Friday after he was shot by a Chicago man with a gun on the 800 block of Lake Street.
Jerrell Thomas, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the incident.
The Oak Park Lodge #8, Fraternal Order of Police also is now collecting donations for the Reddins family. The money raised will be used to support the family, particularly his son, who attends college out of state, and his mother, who is receiving medical treatment, officials said. For more information, email oakparklodge8@gmail.com. Donations also can be made by Zelle using this email address: oakparklodge8@gmail.com. Checks can be mailed to Oak Park FOP Lodge 8, P.O. Box 1054, Oak Park, Illinois, 60304. For more information, visit www.oakparkfop8.org.
A limited supply of blue ribbons will be available in the lobby at Village Hall for those interested in displaying a ribbon in honor of the detective. The ribbons can be picked up during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the candlelight vigil Friday while supplies last.
Late Wednesday, Dec. 4, the family released a statement: “The Family of Detective Allan Reddins mourns the loss of their father, son, brother and friend. Allan was a proud father of his son, an honor student at Morehouse College, who states, ‘my dad is my hero and now my guardian angel. I am now more determined than ever to continue to make both of my parents proud.'”
A visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Leak & Sons Funeral Home at 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in Chicago from 1 to 8 p.m. A police officer walk-through is expected to take place at about 7 p.m. for members of the Oak Park Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, a wake begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Apostolic Church of God at 6320 S. Dorchester Ave. in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. A private burial will follow.
Village Hall is located at 123 Madison St.
More details will be published as they become available.
Update, Dec. 4, 7:41 p.m.: This story has been updated with new information about the funeral and a statement from the family. Update, Dec. 5, 4:05 p.m.: This story was updated with additional information about donations and how to pick up blue ribbons.