The Oak Park Police Department is in mourning after Detective Allan Reddins, a 40-year-old Chicago resident and a member of their force, was shot and killed on duty Friday morning in the 800 block of Lake Street. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Reddins was responding to a sighting of a person brandishing a gun after leaving a Chase bank branch in the 1000 block of Lake Street.
Reddins, who had been sworn in as an Oak Park police officer in May 2019 and served for five years, was shot by the suspect at approximately 9:30 a.m. He was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition, unfortunately pronounced dead at the hospital, marking the department's first line-of-duty death since 1938. Following the shooting, the suspect, having been shot in the leg by another officer, was treated at the scene before also being transported to Loyola where his condition was stabilized, the ABC7 Chicago reported.
Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson, who did Reddins' background investigation and identified his necessary talent for the force, described the fallen officer as a "natural born leader" and a "devoted father." Reddins leaves behind a 19-year-old son, his mother, and a host of friends and colleagues. "He was a committed officer who became a detective" and was admired for always taking the extra step, Johnson told the Chicago Sun-Times. Shortly before 3 p.m. on the day of the incident, a procession of first responders gathered outside the hospital in Maywood to pay their respects.
Witnesses at the scene recounted the chaos, with one local resident being awakened by gunfire and another describing hearing shots while running errands in the area, a statement obtained by ABC7 Chicago. Governor JB Pritzker, the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Fire Department, and Mayor Brandon Johnson have all extended their condolences and support to Reddins' family and the Oak Park Police Department. The Illinois State Police also expressed their grief over the tragedy, offering their deepest condolences.
Oak Park police urge anyone with information to come forward. Anonymous tips can be directed to 708-434-1636 or submitted online at the official crime tip website.
