Officials are remembering a Barrington police officer who died 20 years ago yesterday after he suffered a medical emergency during a struggle with a suspect.
Barrington-Inverness Police Officer Steven E. Graham responded to an incident on August 25, 2002, on Bradwell Road in Inverness.
Graham had responded to William Bily’s home after the man allegedly disrupted communication by transmitting over the police department’s radio channel, the Chicago Tribune reported at the time.
Police had previous encounters with Bily regarding him disrupting the police radio channel.
Graham, 53, attempted to arrest the man but a struggle ensued.
Graham suffered a heart attack during the struggle and collapsed. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide as a result of the arrest.
Bily was later convicted of resisting a peace officer and interfering with police communications, the Tribune reported. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Graham had served with the Barrington-Inverness Police Department for 29 years.
Hundreds attended his funeral. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.