After a difficult year for Illinois police, officers from around the state gathered at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial outside the state Capitol on Thursday to remember those who died in the line of duty. Sixteen Illinois officers were killed in the line of duty between 2019 and 2020. COVID-19 killed several of those officers in 2020. In 2019, multiple officers were killed in traffic accidents or by gunfire. Six other officers who lost their lives in previous years also were honored. "I wanted to say how happy I am to be here. But that seems inappropriate to use that word. I'd be really happy if we didn't need to be here today. If there were no more names to be added to the wall," said Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs.