Funeral Procession Route Monday For Fallen Chicago PO Enrique Martinez

CHICAGO — Hundreds of mourners including police officers, public officials and citizens are expected to gather in the neighborhood for the wake and funeral of fallen Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez.

The 26-year-old officer was gunned down Nov. 4 while conducting a traffic stop.

The Oak Lawn Police Department issued a traffic alert for Sunday afternoon, where visitation for the young officer will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 N. 103rd St. (103rd Street and Cicero Avenue), Oak Lawn.

Motorists should anticipate heavy traffic in the area during the visitation and to watch out for pedestrians to be crossing 103rd Street during the visitation.

The casket bearing the body of Officer Martinez is expected to depart Blake-Lamb at approximately 9:15 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, for the funeral at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave., Chicago. Motorists should anticipate rolling closures.

If you wish to line the streets to show respect and support for Officer Martinez and his family, you may want to be in place by 9 a.m. along the following route:

• Eastbound on 103rd Street to Western Avenue
• Northbound on Western Avenue to 77th Street
• Westbound on 77th Street to St. Rita of Cascia parking lot

Ald. Matt O’Shea, whose 19th Ward is home to numerous Chicago police officers and firefighters, asked neighbors to line the route of the procession as it moves through the community.

“We are asking neighbors to line the route as the procession moves through our community to honor Officer Martinez and show our support to his family, friends and fellow Chicago Police Officers.”

The funeral mass for Officer Martinez will start at 10 a.m. Monday, at Saint Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel. It will be streamed live from CPD’s Facebook page and local news stations.

In anticipation of the procession passing through the Blue Island community for the funeral, CHSD 218 district high schools including Eisenhower, Richards and Shepard, will be on e-learning Monday, according to the district schools’ websites.

Following the funeral, the procession will travel from Saint Rita to Beverly Cemetery (12000 S Kedzie Ave), taking the following route:

• Southbound on Western Avenue to 103rd Street
• Westbound on 103rd Street to Kedzie Avenue
• Southbound on Kedzie Avenue to Beverly Cemetery

The Alsip Police Department has also issued a traffic alert for the procession as it passes through the village. On Monday, Kedzie Avenue from 111th to 127th Street between noon and 3 p.m.

All northbound and southbound lanes of Kedzie Avenue will be closed during the procession to Beverly Cemetery.

NO traffic will be permitted on Kedzie once the procession is in progress.

“The exact time is uncertain [when the procession leaves St. Rita], but it will be after 12 noon,” Alsip police said. “We will continue to provide updates throughout the day.”

Alsip residents and/or motorists who drive through the area on their way to work or home, can check the Alsip Police Facebook page throughout the day. Members of the public, however, are invited to show support for Officer Martinez and can view the procession from sidewalks of Kedzie as it passes through Alsip.