Park Forest Detective Tim Jones, who survived a near-fatal line-of-duty shooting in 2016, has died at 34, the Park Forest Police Department announced Thursday. Jones spent nearly ten years recovering from injuries that left him with a traumatic brain injury and severely limited mobility.
In a Facebook post, the department said that “Tim’s long and difficult battle came to an end” and called him “an inspiration of courage, resilience, and strength,” according to FOX 32 Chicago. The message also thanked the community for the years of support and noted that funeral arrangements will be shared once they are finalized.
2016 Shooting And A Fight To Stay Alive
On the morning of March 19, 2016, officers responded to a reported break-in and set up a perimeter around a vacant home in the 300 block of Neola Street. Police say a man who emerged from the house opened fire, according to CBS Chicago. Officers shot back, and the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Thurman Reynolds, was pronounced dead at the scene. Jones, then 24, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and doctors were initially told he might not survive, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Years Of Rehab And A Community Behind Him
After the shooting, Jones spent months in rehabilitation, working through intensive therapy. In May 2017, he left a rehab hospital to a standing ovation from colleagues, friends, and family. The Park Forest community rallied around him for years, from blue porch lights to the viral #TimStrong hashtag, gestures the department highlighted in its announcement, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. In 2021, the Village Board recognized his struggle and service with an honorary promotion to detective, WBBM Newsradio reported.
Jones was the son of Country Club Hills Police Chief William Jones, CBS Chicago noted. The department asked the public to keep his family in their thoughts and to respect their privacy while arrangements are finalized, ABC7 Chicago reported. Officials have not yet released details about memorial services.
