Hundreds gather for funeral honoring slain Chicago police officer John Bartholomew — 'His heart was pure'
Hundreds of mourners, among them police, officials and loved ones, gathered at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church in Edgewater Friday to say their final farewells to slain Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and other officers arrived early Friday morning — wearing their dress blues and pins with Bartholomew's pictures on them — to wait outside the church where Bartholomew's grandfather once served among the clergy and welcome the fallen officer's family and pay their respects.
The family was welcomed into the church with the sounds of bagpipes and officers riding horses. Blue ribbons were tied to nearby trees and an American flag hung over the church at the end of a firetruck's ladder.
Bartholomew, 38, was shot and killed April 25 at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, allegedly by a robbery suspect that he and his partner had brought there for an evaluation. The other officer was critically wounded. Bartholomew was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.
“It’s beautiful to see how these officers get together to show their support for each other,” observed Maria Cinta, 30.
Cinta, wearing a black and blue t-shirt and a pin with Bartholomew’s photo, had walked with her baby to the church from her Edgewater home to show her support to the grieving family. Her husband recently joined the Cook County Sheriff's Department, she said, and she was sorry to hear of Bartholomew’s passing.
“As a mom, I know how hard it must be,” she said. “He died serving and protecting."
Kara Haller, of Edgewater, said she had never seen a police funeral and was surprised to see how many first responders showed up.
“It’s a sad and somber day and I think it’s impressive to see how much planning goes into this,” said Haller, 41.
Haller said she had been following the news since hearing of Bartholomew’s death and never expected to witness his funeral.
“I’m sorry to see it end up this way,” she said.
During his eulogy, Snelling said he met Bartholomew as a recruit in the police academy.
“He did exactly what he was supposed to do,” Snelling said from the lectern before the attendees.
Snelling said he was the one who informed Bartholomew’s family of his death, calling it the hardest responsibility he faces as a leader, but said he was “honored” to be the one to deliver the news.
Snelling also addressed Bartholomew’s children.
“Your father was a hero,” he said. "His legacy will live on. That is why we are here today.”
Cmdr. Jesse Alvarez, of the 17th district, and Cmdr. Alison Christian, of the 24th district, followed with remarks of their own.
The service ended with final words from Bartholomew’s brother, James Bartholomew, who said emotions were heavy and losing his brother was like “being frozen in time.”
“He wasn’t only my brother, he was my best friend. And now he’s gone,” he said. “If you knew him, you knew his heart was full. His heart was pure.”
‘Loved by all’
Alphanso Talley, 26, is facing murder charges in connection with Bartholomew’s death. Prosecutors said that Talley told police he swallowed drugs and was taken to Swedish Hospital, where he had a firearm concealed under a hospital blanket. Prosecutors haven’t said how they believe Talley brought the gun into the hospital.
Later, when Talley was brought to a room and his handcuffs were removed for a CT scan, he pulled the gun from under the blanket and fired, striking Bartholomew and his partner, according to prosecutors.
Bartholomew was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The other officer was shot in his face. Snelling said the officer was improving but still had "a long way to go."
At the end of the funeral service, the bag pipes played as Bartholomew’s casket — draped in a Chicago flag — was carried out of the church.
Snelling and Johnson then handed the flag to Bartholomew’s wife who stood with her children nearby. A second flag was given to his mother.
“There's never enough words to describe what this experience is. It's always tough,” Snelling said after the service. “We try to give a great member, hero of this city, someone who went out to protect it, the best possible send off that we can give him to make sure that his memory is everlasting.”
A procession, led by other officers, followed to carry Bartholomew to his final resting place.
Cmdr. Tom Hanrahan of the 16th district said Bartholomew was loved and had a “heart of gold.”
Hanrahan said he met Bartholomew while they were both working in the 24th District, and the two became friends and neighbors, living just a few houses apart.
“It's still hard for me and a lot of others to process that this happened and that John's gone,” said Hanrahan. “He was truly loved by all.”
Hanrahan added that Bartholomew would be missed and believed his spirit would “live on” through his family, and through officers’ stories and memories.
Snelling said losing an officer was like “losing a family member” and moving forward the department would do “whatever we can to make things safer” for officers and residents.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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