Monifa Thomas
The Chicago Sun-Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Contributing: Steve Patterson
A trust fund has been set up for the wife and two children of Thomas A. Cook, the Metra Police officer who was shot to death Wednesday night while conducting surveillance on the Metra Electric Line stop in Harvey.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force continued to search for Cook’s killer and his service weapon. The weapon was missing after the shooting in the 400 block of East 147th Place.
‘OUR PRESENCE IS BEING FELT’
Thursday night, Metra riders were relieved to see beefed-up security at the Harvey stop, where violent crime has been an ongoing problem.
But there was no sign of Metra Police at or near the station Friday evening, and the parking lot across the street, which is under the jurisdiction of Harvey, also appeared to be lacking a police presence Friday.
Metra Police Chief James Sanford said: “We don’t have the manpower to have somebody there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But you can be assured that our presence is being felt in that area.”
He wouldn’t elaborate on what measures his 90-member police squad was taking to keep commuters safe.
A Metra spokeswoman added that officers may have been in plainclothes.
Metra did, however, have an officer assigned to Cook’s family in Dyer, Ind.
SERVICES TUESDAY
Donations may be sent to the Cook Family Trust Fund at Unicorp Federal Credit Union, 8615 Wicker Ave., St. John, Ind. 46373.
Visitation for Cook will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today and Monday at Drumm Funeral Home, 1200 E. 162nd St., South Holland.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 700 E. 170th St., South Holland.