Community pays tribute to Park Forest police detective Tim Jones during celebration of life service
A community came together on Saturday morning to celebrate the life of Park Forest, Illinois, police Detective Tim Jones.
Jones died nearly a decade after being shot multiple times in the line of duty. Jones was not expected to survive but pulled through for almost a decade.
The celebration of life took place at Tinley Park High School. The memorial was held at 10 a.m. and will be followed by the celebration of life service.
All around the school, Jones filled the halls and rooms.
Principal Theresa Nolan knew Jones when he was a student and as an officer with Park Forest.
"Tim was an amazing athlete with an amazing family who gave him the support he needed," she said.
Kyle Rodriguez had known him for 20 years when Jones was a receiver on the football team.
"We played football together here at Tinley Park for four years, and he was probably the hardest working person that I have ever been around," he said.
But more than anything, he was proud to serve the community as a police officer.
On Saturday, March 19, 2016, Jones was shot in his first year on the job while investigating a break-in at a vacant home and a stolen vehicle in the 300 block of Neola Street in the south Chicago suburb.
After learning a person was inside the building, police set up a perimeter around the home. As the suspect left, police say they tried to take him into custody, but he took out a gun and started shooting at the officers. The shooter was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.
Jones, 24, at the time, was shot once in the head and was rushed to the hospital. He was not expected to recover, but he pulled through time and time again.
Fourteen months later, Jones was released from the hospital in full uniform to a standing ovation. He also had a Park Forest street named after him and became an honorary detective.
Jones died earlier this month at the age of 34.
On Saturday, first responders all over the state filed into the school's gym to pay their respects to Jones' parents and family.
"Tim has done as much, if not more, for law enforcement than just about anyone who has worn a uniform for the PFPD," former Park Forest Village Manager Tom Mick said.
"Tim, you are my hero for what you did on March 19, 2016, but even more so for what you did after," said Robert Jones, uncle.
People at the event said that Jones was family-focused, driven, and had a "knock you down" smile that no one could forget, no matter what life brought him.
"When that injury happened, and Tim opened his eyes after he was shot in the head, it showed what kind of character he had and the ability to fight through adversity, I mean, his fight was heroic," Rodriguez said.
Officer Jones was a second-generation police officer. His dad was a police chief for Country Club Hills.
He became an organ donor and will help 75 people in need of life-saving transplants.