Officer Down

Police Officer Jeremy J. Hubbard
Cowden Police Department Cowden Illinois
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit

Officer Jeremy Hubbard was killed during a pursuit of a pickup truck whose driver was suspected of diesel gas theft at 6:40 pm from a service station in Staunton in Macoupin County.

After Benld and Gillespie officers had both terminated their pursuits, Officer Hubbard observed the vehicle without license plates traveling on North First Street at 8:00 pm and attempted to make a traffic stop. Officer Hubbard pursued the vehicle approximately 15 miles when the patrol car went out of control and overturned in a cornfield on Illinois Route 128, one mile south of U.S. 40, near Altamont in Effingham County. The suspect continued fleeing and remains at large.

Officer Hubbard was ejected from the patrol car and had been airlifted from the scene when the medical helicopter was diverted to Greenville Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An officer trainee, who was riding with Officer Hubbard, was injured but survived.

Officer Hubbard had served with the Cowden Police Department as one of its two part-time officers for four years and also served as a part-time deputy with the Effingham County Sheriff's Department. He is survived by his wife, 8- and 13-year-old sons, sister, mother and grandmother.

Rest in Peace Bro…We’ll Continue The Watch
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.