Garfield Park Street Named After Officer

A small stretch of road near Midway Airport on Tuesday was named after Michael Gordon, who was killed in the line of duty six years ago

A small stretch of road near Midway Airport on Tuesday was named after a Chicago police officer who was killed in the line of duty six years ago.

The 5100 block of South Leamington Avenue now carries the designation of Police Officer Michael Gordon Way.

Dozens of officers joined Gordon's family as a sign bearing his name was put on a pole on the southeast corner of the intersection. While the family grew up in Cicero, Gordon's older brother said the block in Garfield Ridge was like a second home because their grandmother lived there.

Gordon was described as a hard-worker and the future of the Chicago Police Department. But at just 30 years old, he was killed when a driver with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit ran a red light and slammed into Gordon's squad car. Gordon and the drunk driver were killed in the crash. Gordon's partner was critically injured.

While it took nearly seven years to get the street named after the officer, his family members called the designation a great honor.

Gordon also served for the Riverside Police Department and, prior to that, as military police officer in the U.S. Army.  Another part of his legacy is an Illinois law that carries his name.  It increases the penalties for some DUI offenses.

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