Chambana Sun

In a Jan. 12 Facebook post, Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) expressed gratitude that the legislature honored fallen Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim.

“This is the least we could do to honor your husband's legacy and it was an honor and privilege to be the Senate sponsor...so glad it finally got done before the last General Assembly adjourned,” Rose wrote on Facebook. “Thank you, Amber, and your girls for all that you have done to support all our men and women in BLUE!”

In his Facebook post, Rose shared a Facebook post from Oberheim's widow, who reflected on the day the Illinois legislature unanimously voted to name a stretch of I-172 after Oberheim, who was killed in the line of duty in May 2021. 

"We are pleased to share that the Illinois House & Senate have unanimously voted to name the stretch of I-72 between Decatur and Champaign 'Officer Oberheim Memorial Highway," Amber Oberheim posted. "A special thank you to State Senator Chapin Rose & Dan Caulkins Illinois State Representative for seeing this through. I remember the conversation we had at Chris’s funeral…your support hasn’t waivered since."

The measure to name a stretch of I-72 between Decatur and Champaign was adopted by the Illinois Senate on April 9, 2022. It was adopted by the Illinois House of Representatives on Jan. 10, 2023. Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) sponsored the measure in the House, and many senators sponsored it in the Senate, including Sens. Rose, Jason A. Barickman (R-Morris), Sally J. Turner (R-Lincoln) and Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

On May 19, Oberheim was shot and killed as he responded with another officer to a domestic disturbance, according to wandtv.com. He was a 13-year veteran of the Champaign Police Department and a former officer with the Decatur Police.