The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge on Sunday, May 5 recognized Paul Taylor and Jake Pierce, the two men who organized the Nick Weist Memorial Bags Tournament held that day at the Abingdon American Legion. The tournament proceeds supported the Nick Weist Scholarship Fund in memory of the Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy who was killed in the line of duty on April 29, 2022.
“Paul and Jake received our Blue and Gold Award, the highest honor we can give to non-police citizens for their support of those in law enforcement,” said FOP Spoon River Valley Lodge # 427 President Donald “Ike” Hackett. “Paul and Jake worked tirelessly to organize, promote and oversee the memorial bags tournament as a tribute to Nick Weist’s service, and the event’s success means that Nick’s memory will continue to live on through the education of the area’s young people.”
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
***Courtesy of the Fraternal Order of Police***
