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Sgt. Daniel Paul Figgins A St. Charles, IL police sergeant who served on the force for twenty-seven years, Dan loved his job. He was hired to the St. Charles police force on October 10, 1977. He was promoted to sergeant on February 23, 1988. He died, while on duty, April 9, 2005. The events in the middle are his story. He was born March 28, 1952 in Elgin, IL. The 2nd of 5 sons and 1 daughter born to Paul and Marilyn Figgins. He grew up all his life in Elgin, attending Highland Grade School, Kimball Junior High and graduating Larkin High School in 1970. He attended Judson College and worked as a produce manager at Jewel Foods on Larkin Avenue. In 1973, he married the love of his life, his wife of 32 years, Linda. They had two daughters, that he adored, Kristin and Hillary. Dan had always thought about law enforcement and shortly thereafter became a reserve Police Officer in Elgin. After testing, on October 10, 1977, his dream came true and he was hired to the St. Charles Police Department full time. By all accounts Dan was conscientious about his health, making a point to eat healthily and exercise regularly, and recently passed a stress test showing no signs of blockage. At a glance, he would have appeared to be in far better health than most fifty-three year olds. Dan’s legacy can be “the grim reminder” of the importance of physical fitness in a job that often requires men and women in their forties and fifties to clash with suspects half their age. While prospective police officers face a battery of strenuous physical tests before they can put on a badge, officers are mostly on their own when it comes to keeping in shape once they are on the job. Like everyone else, keeping fit can prove difficult for officers who are fighting the effects of middle age. Then on April 9th, 2005, Dan went on duty as thousands of other Officers do each day. That day, in the early morning hours, his life and the lives of his family, friends, co-workers and those in the community changed forever… “At approximately 0120 hours, Sgt. Figgins was dispatched to investigate suspicious activity at the St. Charles East High School. Shortly after being the first officer to arrive at the scene, he advised dispatch that he was in a foot pursuit. When backup officers arrived, they located Sergeant Figgins unresponsive on the ground. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.” Sgt. Figgins a devoted Husband, Father, Brother, Friend and Christian died of a massive Heart Attack. We do what we do, for that reason… If we can help in any way to prevent another family, friend, co-worker or community experience the loss we feel on a daily basis, our mission is accomplished. The Family of Sgt. Daniel P. Figgins His Officer Down Memorial Page is Here Video Tribute
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