Chambana Sun

Brandun Schweizer, a candidate for Illinois State House District 104, recently attended the police memorial ceremony with his colleagues. "I had the honor of attending the police memorial ceremony," said Schweizer, who will be running against Democrat Jarett Clem in the general election. He also expressed his condolences to the friends and families of the fallen police officers who lost their lives in 2023.

"I had the honor of attending the Police Memorial Ceremony yesterday with many of my colleagues," said Schweizer, according to Facebook. "The ceremony honors the fallen officers from the past year. Prayers for their friends and families as their loved ones sacrificed it all to keep our communities safe."

The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony took place on May 2, 2024. The event began at 9:30 a.m., with an interfaith ceremony preceding the main ceremony at 11 a.m. The location was the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Site on the west lawn of the State Capitol. The ceremony is organized annually by the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, which has been active since 1985, according to information from the Illinois Police Memorial website.

Screenshot of Rep. Brandun Schweizer's May 3 Facebook post | State Representative Brandun Schweizer Facebook page

In 2024, two names were added to the memorial, along with four historic honorees. Officer Andres Mauricio Vasquez Lasso and Officer Areanah Makayla Preston, both from the Chicago Police Department, died on March 1 and May 6 respectively in 2023. Also honored were law enforcement professionals who passed away before 2023: Officer John Francis Kane of Cicero Police Department (end-of-watch date Nov.12,1910), Sheriff Ray Boston of Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (end-of-watch July 23,1947), Deputy Sheriff Andrew H. Sloan of Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office (died Jan.2,1951), and Detective Todd C. Gillerlain of Chicago Police Department (died May 7,2020). This information was obtained from the Illinois Police Memorial organization's website.

According to NPR Illinois, this memorial is an annual event that takes place on the first Thursday of May each year. Notable attendees included State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, State Comptroller Susanna Mendoza, and retired Chicago police officer Mike Ostrowski.

Schweizer filled the vacancy in the 104th House District following the retirement of Rep. Mike Marron. A retired US Marine Corps Master Sergeant, Schweizer worked as a code enforcement inspector in Danville. He resides in Danville with his wife and sons. Schweizer is also the founder of the Tiny Troops Soccer program, which introduces young children living on military bases to soccer, according to his official biography for the Illinois House of Representatives.