Flags Ordered to Half Staff in Memory of Rockford Police Officer

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Gov. Bruce Rauner that all persons or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor of Rockford Police Officer Jaimie Cox.

The CMS message read: "Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all buildings occupied by your agency's personnel from Sunrise on Thursday, Nov. 9 until Sunset on Saturday, Nov. 11".

Officer Cox died in the line of duty. Autopsies have revealed that he died of blunt force trauma and a pickup driver was shot to death during an early morning traffic stop.

A spokeswoman for the city of Rockford says the 30-year-old Cox’s injuries may have been caused when the pickup crashed. A separate autopsy shows that 49-year old Eddie Patterson Jr., is believed to have been shot by Cox. Patterson also was injured when the pickup crashed about 1 a.m. Sunday.

State police Sgt. Sam Thomas said Monday that Patterson’s driver’s license had been revoked and that Cox may have pulled him over after noticing license plates on the pickup “didn’t match the vehicle.”

Cox was found near the truck and pronounced dead at a hospital. Patterson’s body was inside the truck.