On what would have been her 34th birthday, a bronze statue commemorating the life and service of fallen Chicago Police Officer Ella French was unveiled at Wentworth Park, as reported by NBC Chicago. French, who was 29 at the time of her death, was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 2021. The statue's unveiling brought together community members, law enforcement, and French's family in a moment of remembrance.
According to CBS News, the statue is located in a place of personal significance as French often took her dog Bella to the now adjacent dog park. Elizabeth French, the officer's mother, expressed her emotional connection to the tribute, saying, "I could not have imagined a better birthday gift for her." The statue not only honors Ella French but also stands as a symbol for all officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The resemblance of a sculpture is so potent that Elizabeth French mentioned wanting to reach out and touch it. "I look at her, and I want to touch her," Ella French's mother told NBC Chicago. "The only thing better would be to have her in person. She is beyond beautiful." The artist behind the statue, Erik Blome, aimed to encapsulate the connection French had with both people and animals.
Further commemorating Ella French's legacy is the non-profit Light the Line, founded by her family to support on-duty police officers. "Ella is not the only officer killed in the line of duty, and I am not the only parent that has lost a child. This is for them too," Elizabeth French explained in an NBC Chicago interview. The ongoing community support includes honorary street renaming and a scholarship that benefits children of Chicago police officers.
