Retired Oswego Police Officer Dies After Fight With Cancer

OSWEGO, IL — Retired Officer Keith Wilson, who served the Oswego Police Department for more than 20 years, died Monday. He was 54.

Officials said Wilson was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and "never gave up the fight and the hope of recovering from the disease."

"Keith was a big part of the Oswego Police Department and will be profoundly missed," officials said in a news release. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to Keith’s family and friends during this difficult time."

In a GoFundMe campaign started by Wilson's family following his diagnosis, his sister said in an October update that Wilson loved spending time with his daughter and found "joy in each day being around family and friends, or just texting/calling friends to keep in touch."

"They say cancer is just a chapter in someone’s life that it doesn’t define your life story," she wrote. "Well, it may be a chapter in his life, but without a doubt it doesn't define who he is.…his strength, courage and character does."

Police will honor Wilson with a mourning bunting on the Oswego Police Department headquarters until the retired officer is laid to rest.

Before retiring from the Oswego Police Department in 2017, Wilson worked in various departments. He served as a patrol officer for several years before moving into the traffic unit where he spent nine years as a traffic officer who focused on improving traffic safety and overseeing traffic programs, officials said.

In the last two years of his career, Wilson worked as Oswego High School's school resource officer, a role that allowed him to build "strong relationships with the students, staff and members of the community." He was also involved in the Character Counts Program, Junior Police Academy and the Operations Impact program.

"We thank him for his dedicated service to our community and the Oswego Police Department during his career," officials said.