Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- His story is well known now in Park Forest and beyond.
But he still needs you.
Go #TimStrong, for one of our own.
From the PFPD and SouthCom Dispatchers:
On March 19 at approximately 5:40 am, Park Forest Police were on the scene at a vacant residence investigating a break-in and a stolen vehicle found at the location.
A suspect exited the home and as the officers attempted to detain him, he produced a handgun and began firing on officers.
Officers returned fire, striking the suspect.
One officer, Tim Jones, suffered life threatening injuries in the gunfire exchange.
Officer Jones was transported to St. James Hospital and then air lifted to Christ Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the head. He remains in critical condition.
Tim is a one year veteran of the Park Forest Police Department, and comes from a police family.
The SouthCom Dispatchers are setting this up to support Tim and his family in his continued fight for his life. All proceeds will go directly to Tim and his family for use in his care.
A one year veteran who almost lost his life fighting for yours.
Now, he continues to fight for his own life.
Go #TimStrong, Park Forest:
Buy the shirt seen above. “All proceeds will go directly to Tim and his family for use in his care,” SouthCom Dispatchers said above.
“All proceeds will go directly to Tim and his family for use in his care.”
If you wish to donate directly to Tim Jones and his family for his care, there is also a GoFundMe page set up:
https://www.gofundme.com/timstrong
As of this writing, 1,038 people have donated over $56,000 on this page.
“Another T-shirt design has been created by members of Rich East High School, and is available locally,” according to the PFPD. We will publish more information on this shirt as it becomes available.
Finally, a reflection from the Park Forest Police Department:
Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit. -Bernard Williams
With each day that passes, that quote is affirmed in Officer Tim Jones, in his family, in the men and women of the Park Forest Police Department, and in the community near and far that is supporting us. If nothing else, the tragedy Tim, and by extension we, have endured has shown us the resilience of good people.
Given the nature of Tim’s injuries, we are celebrating even the smallest of improvements and are prepared for a long recovery with no idea at this point what that will ultimately look like. But given how hard he’s fighting, our hopes are high. Today is 9 days #TimStrong.
Police personnel remain by Tim’s side 24 hours a day. But we also have a job to carry on, and the business of serving and protecting the people of Park Forest continues. We will begin to resume posting regular social media content, and will reserve updates on Tim’s condition for when larger milestones are achieved, in coordination with the family in respect for their privacy.
And again, we’d like to again extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported is ways big and small. From the many messages we have received, to a seemingly endless supply of food and treats dropped off at the station, to the donations made on our gofundme page, to the blue porch lights we see while patrolling at 4 a.m. and the blue ribbons tied around anything that stood still that wave in the early spring wind- we thank you. There is a social media hashtag, #weseeyou, that has become a popular way for the public who support law enforcement’s mission to tell their public servants that the job they do day-in and day-out is noticed and appreciated. If there is any light in this dark tragedy, it is that your response has allowed us to say, #weseeyoutoo.
Two weeks ago Saturday, at the scene of the shooting, the tragedy, one Park Forester, Barbara Stephens, spoke of the good relationship residents have with members of the Park Forest Police Department, “We like our police down here. We like them a lot.”
Amen to that.
Amen to that.
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