EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Current police officers in Madison County want to create a memorial to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty serving their region.

But if you are familiar with the area, specifically Edwardsville, you may believe one such memorial exists. You would be correct.

However, the current memorial has a heartbreaking problem, one that, once realized, could not be ignored.

“The current memorial we have for those that have lost their lives within Madison County in the line of duty was running out of room,” explained Detective Sergeant Jared Fravell, with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.

Now, the Madison County Fallen Officers Memorial Fund has launched a new mission to create a tribute that properly remembers their sacrifice, all through donations rather than taxpayer dollars.

“This project is a 501(c)(3), a non-for-profit,” said Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor.  “This is not a small task. It’s a large task. And we just look for the community. If you want your family to be forever memorialized in this, there are going to be bricks that your name could be etched on.”

Local businesses and members of Madison County are invited to help build this brand-new memorial through donations, so click here.