Officer Thomas Dodsworth was killed in the line of duty 100 years ago on July 6, 1913. To honor Officer Dodsworth, the Champaign Police Department will hold a memorial service on Saturday, July 6, 2013.
The service will start at approximately 3:00 p.m. at the Champaign Police Department, located at 82 East University Avenue. A marked squad car will then lead a processional, which will include retired officers from the Champaign Police
• The processional will travel past the Champaign City Building, located at 102 North Neil Street. The City Building was the location of the Champaign Police Department in Dodsworth’s era.
• The processional will continue to the 100 block of West Columbia Street, past Officer Dodsworth’s residence at the time of his death (108 West Columbia Street).
• From Columbia Street, the vehicles will continue to the intersection of Columbia Street and Market Street. Officer Dodsworth was killed just north of Columbia Street on Champaign Street.
• The processional will then continue to Woodlawn Cemetery, located at 1803 North Coler Avenue in Urbana.
Officers will assemble for a short ceremony, during which a wreath will be placed on Officer Dodsworth’s grave.
The media is welcome to attend as we honor one of our own from a bygone era.