Detective Allan Reddins was remembered in a ceremony in the Village Hall courtyard Nov. 29, a year after he was killed in response to a call on Lake Street.
Reddins’ death was the first in the line of duty for a member of the Oak Park Police Department since 1938.
The snowy weather didn’t prevent attendance by members of the community, police officers from Oak Park and surrounding areas and local politicians, including Village President Vicki Scaman and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis.
As snow swirled, people honored the memory of Reddins as more than a member of law enforcement, but also a friend and family man. Detective Andrew Vaughan, Reddins’ former police partner, remembered shifts with him but also interactions outside of work, such as after his daughter’s birth.
“I’ll never forget when my wife and I had our daughter,” Vaughan said. “Allan seemed almost more excited than I. He came over shortly after we got home and immediately asked to hold her. I watched him rock her back and forth with a big smile.”
Commander Nathaniel Leitl reflected on Reddins’ deep dedication to his family.
“I think his true ‘why’ was his family: being a good father, setting a good example, helping out with his mother whenever she needed it,” Leitl said. “Allan was just a dude who did the right thing, and not just when he showed up to work and put on the uniform.”
Stacey Bailey, the former partner of Reddins and mother of their son, Jayden, spoke directly to her son.
“So I want you to elevate and stand and know that both of your parents are still with you, one in the spirit and one in the physical,” Bailey said.
The Oak Park Police Department will preserve Reddins’ legacy by retiring his badge number. The number will also be worn on police officers’ sleeves and on squad cars, said Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson.
Furthermore, the parking area for squad cars at Village Hall will be renamed Reddins Way in dedication to him, Johnson said.
Leitl and Johnson both thanked the officers for their work in spite of the criticism they face due to being part of law enforcement.
“I appreciate you all, and although you may not hear it every single day from every person that you serve, know that they thank you,” Johnson said. “We appreciate and love you.”
In a hard moment, roll call for the Oak Park Police Department was read out. Reddins’s name was repeated three times, with increased intensity each time. There was no response, a reminder of what has been lost.
Yet Rev. Adonna Reid, the Oak Park Police Department chaplain, reminded the audience of Reddins’ continued presence.
“So Detective Reddins’ glow and ringing for life will remain deep in our hearts, even though his physical flame has gone out,” Reid said.
Following the ceremony, a breakfast was held where police officers, family and community members bonded over their memories of Reddins.
In an interview, Jayden Reddins, Reddins’ son, reminisced about nerf gun fights with his father while noting the ongoing pain that remains with him after his father’s death. Yet he said he felt honored knowing that his father’s legacy would live on at the Oak Park Police Department and elsewhere.
“My school, for instance, got a scholarship coming in his name,” said Reddins, who attends Morehouse College. “I feel like I’m just happy that he’s getting the recognition and the honoring that he deserves.”
