Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (ILFOP) State Lodge President Chris Southwood has issued the following statement regarding the decision by the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office not to file charges against a Macomb Police officer for a hostage situation in March where the suspect and a four-year-old boy were killed:
“Terrell Miller died because a criminal’s murderous intentions put the boy in harm’s way as police were trying to save Terrell and his mother. The split-second decision that ended Terrell’s life will continue to haunt the community. We commend the Illinois State Police for their exhaustingly thorough, independent investigation that determined this incident involving a well-respected and community-minded police officer was not something that deserves prosecution. The death of Terrell Miller is a terrible tragedy and the worst nightmare that any parent or law enforcement officer can face, and it is our hope and prayer that no one, anywhere, will ever have to experience such a tragedy again.”
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
