The community once again had a chance to pay its respects to the most recent Knox County Sheriffs Deputy killed in the line of duty, while also supporting the cause that made the event happen.
A not-for-profit called “Beyond the Call of Duty” brought its “End of Watch Ride” of motorcycles to the Knox County Sheriffs Department Wednesday morning, and with it, a traveling memorial of officers killed on the job, including Deputy Nicholas Weist, killed by a driver trying to evade police, and who is still awaiting sentencing.
“You can never do enough to honor the fallen. You can never do enough for their family,” said Jack Harlan, Jr., Knox County Sheriff. “But, for us to continue to have remembrances like this, and to be able to bring the community to honor Nick’s service and sacrifice…that day, who knows how many children’s lives Nick had saved.”
Harlan says Weist’s family was in attendance, and could be seen spending solemn time at the memorial, in front of Weist’s picture. The family and others also got the chance to talk with Allison McCarter, ride coordinator.
“The day they lost their loved one, their lives changed forever, and will never go back to normal, what was once normal,” said McCarter. “I just wanted to find a way to share them with everyone across the nation. What better way to do that than to show strangers all across the country their pictures, and say their names, and tell them their stories.”
The stop in Galesburg was one of more than 70 being made this year, with the tour on the tail end of its trip. Harlan asked the group, instead of getting back on Interstate 74, to instead turn the other way, and finish the route to Galesburg by taking U.S. 150, which was later named “Deputy Nicholas Weist Memorial Highway.”
Weist was one of 245 officers nationwide killed in the line of duty in 2022. That number went down to 135 last year.
“Beyond the Call of Duty” is funded by sponsors and businesses in Washington state, where they’re based. To make a donation or purchase their merchandise, click the link in the second paragraph of this story.
