Latest news with #Oberheim
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cop on a Rooftop raises $1.2M for Special Olympics Illinois
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Law enforcement officers stood on top of Dunkin' Donuts' rooftops across the state on Friday to raise money for an important cause. Cop on a Rooftop is part of an effort to raise money for the Special Olympics Illinois and helps to ensure that each athlete can compete at no cost. Oberheim Baseball tournament held to honor fallen officer This year, the event raised $1.2 million. It's their largest fundraiser of the year. From 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, law enforcement officers stood atop Dunkin' locations in the state, to rally communities in support of their local Special Olympics athletes. In Illinois, more than 350 Dunkin' locations participated in the fundraiser. This year marks the 22nd year of the event. Since the program began, nearly $10 million has been raised in Illinois. You can find out more about the event, and how to donate, here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
4 years later: Champaign Deputy Chief reflects on death of Officer Chris Oberheim
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Police Department remembered one of their own on Monday. Officers Chris Oberheim and Jeff Creel were both shot while responding to a domestic call four years ago. Oberheim later died. Since that day in 2021, Greg Manzana, the deputy chief, said the department has built up staffing and focused on preparing officers for situations like the one that happened that night. But, there's one change you wouldn't see on the street — the Oberheim Room. It's on the department's first floor, and includes Oberheim's locker with his uniform, boots, family photos, and a Medal of Valor inside. 'It's just a daily reminder of the dangers of this profession,' Manzana said. Days like that are a family's and department's worst nightmare. 'There are memories, there are images I will take to my grave,' the deputy chief added. 'I had to change my ringtone. I hear the ringtone from that night, and to this day, it sends a chill down my spine.' Life-altering moment doesn't define retired Champaign Police Officer Jeff Creel At the time of the shooting, Manzana was Oberheim's lieutenant. They also served on the SWAT team together. Between responding to calls and handling police business, Manzana said he'll always remember their chats from 'car-to-car' in parking lots. 'His devotion to his kids, to his family. That's what I'm never going to forget about him,' Manzana added. Besides looking back, the department is also looking forward and being transparent with new officers about what happened that night. 'It comes down to ensuring that everybody we have knows what happened so that we can be vigilant, so that we can be as prepared as we can to face something like that,' Manzana said. About 40% of the department has been onboarded since Oberheim's death. Oberheim Baseball tournament held to honor fallen officer 'I'm in awe of all these officers signing up today to try to come on with us and do this job as dangerous as it is,' he added. Now, he's one of many who are making it his mission to continue honoring Oberheim and others who have died in the line of duty, keeping families front of mind the entire time. 'Chris didn't get to see his daughters graduate, won't get to walk his daughters down the aisle, missing the birth of his grandchildren, all in the service to this community. Trying to help somebody he did not know,' Manzana said. 'There is a debt of gratitude I feel to his family for that loss.' Officer Jeff Creel was the other officer with Oberheim on May 19, 2021. He was shot three times and later retired in 2022 after more than 20 years in Champaign. The Oberheim family later started Peacemaker Project 703, an organization to support law enforcement officers and their families. For more details, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
