CANTON, Ill. – (25 News) – Fulton County residents teamed up with local law enforcement Saturday morning to play a special flag football game in honor of a sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty.
Deputy Troy Chisum was killed in June, 2019. Five years ago, members of the Spoon River Valley FOP Lodge 427 joined the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in co-hosting the annual game.
Chisum’s fellow deputies said he loved participating every year, so the event has been dedicated to his memory since his death.
“He got hired directly after me – when he did, we became friends. He was probably the first person to sign up for the first year we did this,” Deputy Josh Twidwell said. “He loved playing sports, he loved doing anything that was physical or athletic. It was great to have him out here in his energy.”
The game raises money for the Troy Chisum Scholarship, which helps aspiring first responders receive their emergency medic certification.
Donald “Ike” Hackett, with the Spoon River Valley FOP Lodge 427, said it is also a way to have fun and allow local law enforcement to better connect with the community.
“There is a movement in society that has tried to dehumanize law enforcement. Today, it gives these 20-some young men the opportunity to come out and have fun, and it gets to show the human side of law enforcement,” Hackett said.
Organizers also sold more than 100 t-shirts to commemorate this year’s event, which was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers also accepted donations from participants and spectators, and all the proceeds went toward the scholarship.
