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“Trooper’s trooper” laid to rest

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Hundreds of mourners packed into Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington to pay their respects to Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher Lambert Friday.

The 34-year-old was killed while responding to a crash on the Tri-State Tollway last week.

“We lost a family member,” said Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz. “We lost a friend. He was a troopers’ trooper.”

Lambert, 34, was headed home to Highland Park last Saturday when he stopped to investigate a three-vehicle crash on the northbound lanes of I-294 near Willow Road in Northbrook. He stopped to position his vehicle on the left-hand lane to protect those involved in the crash. He was standing outside of his vehicle when he was struck by an oncoming motorist.

“Our job is to protect the lives of people,” said Director Schmitz. “My trooper had to trade his life to protect the people. I’m so proud of him he is a hero.”

* Tribune…

Newly sworn-in Gov. J.B. Pritzker also attended, and from the pulpit reflected upon the grief he felt as a child when his father died.

“Let me try, however inadvertently and inadequately, to ease a small part of this burden for you,” he told Lambert’s wife and daughter. “There will come a day when the memory of Chris will be like a cool breeze in summer, comforting and gentle. … You will always mourn his death, but this agony fades. What is left are the most perfect memories — the best parts of the person that you loved.”

Lambert, a native of Dayton, Ohio, was an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Haiti. He had been with Illinois State Police since 2013 and worked in the criminal patrol division.

…Adding… The full video is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 2:19 pm

Comments

That is quite a lovely sentiment from Gov. Pritzker. Bravo.

Comment by Anon E Moose Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 2:59 pm
Anon E Moose, you should watch the video.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:01 pm
Wow. The video.

Powerfully moving, real empathy and sympathy. Wow.

Condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:09 pm
Tragic story.

Beautiful job by Gov. Pritzker and his Comms staff.

RIP Trooper Lambert.

Comment by Dee Lay Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:24 pm
Very moving tribute from J.B. That was from the heart. He has a good comms staff, too, and his inaugural speech was well crafted, but also well delivered.

It’s nice to see the change from the previous administration proceeding on a variety of fronts. They were embattled pretty much from Day 1. The Pritzker administration is demonstrating an inclusive and compassionate spirit thus far.

Comment by Moe Berg Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:34 pm