Hundreds of people flowed through St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater Thursday to pay their respects to slain Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew.
Bartholomew, 38, was shot and killed April 25 at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, allegedly by a robbery suspect that he and his partner had brought there for an evaluation. The other officer was critically wounded. Bartholomew was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.
At Thursday’s visitation, blue ribbons were tied to nearly every tree, street sign and pole surrounding the church. Small American flags, Chicago flags and police flags were set in the lawn outside the church and rippled in the wind. Four police officers on horseback also were on the lawn before seeking cover during a late afternoon shower.
Many mourners wore circular pins with a photo of Bartholomew.
Several elected officials attended the visitation, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley and former state Rep. Darren Bailey, now the Republican candidate for governor. Alds. Matt O’Shea (19th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Matt Martin (47th) and James Gardiner (45th) also attended.
“I thought it was important that we come here and pay our respects,” said O’Shea, whose Far Southwest Side ward is home to scores of Chicago police officers.
“Such a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bartholomew family” as well as that of the wounded officer, O’Shea added. “Just another example, a reminder of just how unbelievably dangerous this job is for our first responders, our police officers.”
Cook County prosecutors allege Alphanso Talley, 26, was arrested that morning in connection with an armed robbery . Talley was searched by two officers after his arrest. They found cash but no gun.
Talley claimed he swallowed drugs and was taken to Swedish Hospital. There, prosecutors say, he had a firearm concealed under a hospital blanket. Prosecutors haven’t explained how they believe Talley brought the gun into the hospital .
Later, when Talley was brought to a room and his handcuffs were removed for a CT scan, he pulled the gun from under the blanket and fired, striking Bartholomew and his partner, prosecutors have said.
Bartholomew was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The other officer was shot in his face. He has shown signs of improvement since the shooting, according to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, who also was at the visitation.
Talley faces numerous felony charges, including murder and attempted murder. He is due back in court May 20.
Waguespack said the City Council has “a lot of work to do” to improve officer safety and “support a system that keeps the quality of life for people moving forward and safe, and make sure that the safety of our officers is as important as it is for all our residents.”
Funeral services for Bartholomew are planned for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Road.
