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Thomas Wortham, Slain Chicago Police Officer, Remembered With Youth Campout

By Wendell Hutson | August 15, 2014 8:48am
 An annual camping trip for youths will take place Aug. 15-16, 2014 at Nat King Cole Park in Chatahm where Chicago police officer Thomas Wortham IV was murdered in 2010.   
An annual camping trip for youths will take place Aug. 15-16, 2014 at Nat King Cole Park in Chatahm where Chicago police officer Thomas Wortham IV was murdered in 2010.  
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DNAinfo/Quinn Ford

CHATHAM —Organizers of an annual event where inner-city kids sleep overnight in the park is a way to give them an opportunity to learn about camping while also honoring slain police officer Thomas Wortham IV.

The fifth annual Peace in the Park After Dark event runs from 5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday at Nat King Cole Park, 361 E. 85th St., and is hosted by the 6th District Community Policing Office.

The camp, which will include volunteers and police officers, is for youths between 11 and 17 years old. They'll take part in everything from archery to hula hoop contests to roasting s'mores before spending a night under the stars.

Wortham IV had been president of the Cole Park Advisory Council before he was shot and killed inside the park during a 2010 robbery.

Wortham's parents live across the street from Cole Park. During the attempted robbery, one of the four robbers was killed during a shootout with Wortham's father, a retired police officer.

Carolyn Wortham, Thomas' mother, recalled that her son "always wanted the kids of today to be able to experience the fun times he had at Cole Park when he was younger."

"My husband and I, along with our daughter, are members of the park's Advisory Council, and we participate every year in the Peace in the Park event. It's a wonderful tribute to Tommy."

Registration for the event closed in July but police officials said parents interested in having their children participate next year should sign up their kids at the Sixth District, 7808 S. Halsted St., starting in June. Over 100 youths attended last year.

 

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