As the Democratic National Convention commences its final day in Chicago amidst continuing protests, a beacon of community support mobilizes in the streets. Elizabeth French, the mother of the fallen Chicago police Officer Ella French, has launched "Light the Line," a mobile unit providing sustenance and solidarity for police officers working extended shifts during these tense days.
Officer Ella French fell in the line of duty on the night of August 7, 2021, leaving behind a legacy that her mother continues to honor. "I'm hoping she's proud I was so proud of her," Elizabeth French told NBC Chicago. The mobile unit, stocked with donations from local businesses and community members, is offering water, snacks, and a show of gratitude to officers stationed around the city's DNC events.
In a related incident shedding light on the dangers officers face, Elizabeth French recently confronted the man charged with her daughter’s death, expressing pain and the struggle to forgive. "My faith tells me to forgive, I’m not ready for that yet," she said in an emotional courtroom scene, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Eric Morgan received a seven-year sentence, the maximum allowed, for his involvement in the events leading up to Officer French's death.
The support initiative comes at a time when law enforcement officers are feeling immense pressure from protracted working hours and public scrutiny. Retired Chicago Police Sgt. Lee Bielecki, a volunteer with both the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and CPD's Employee Assistance Program, articulated the sentiment within the force: "The officers [are] out there doing the best they can under circumstances," he shared in an interview with NBC Chicago. "They got days off cancelled, 12-hour shifts, family interferences. People have to realize being a police officer is a job as well as a profession."
