On Sunday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. in Wentworth Park (56th and Narragansett), Chicago will gather to unveil a bronze sculpture honoring slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French.
French joined the Chicago Police Department in 2018. She was just 29 when she was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2021.
Remembered not only as an officer, but as a young woman who carried herself with kindness and humility, her mother, Elizabeth, described her in interviews as embodying “goodness.”
Since then, her name has lived on in ways that reflect that spirit. Scholarships in her honor now support students, and the Light the Line program – created by her family and her injured partner, Officer Carlos Yañez Jr. – provides further resources and assistance for police families facing trauma.
A benefit reception for Light the Line will follow the statue dedication from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Join Ald. Silvana Tabares, Ella’s mom, Elizabeth French, Yanez and others for light bites and refreshments at Ciao Ragazzi Restaurant & Bar, 5440 S. Narraganett. For tickets, visit Light the Line.
Sunday’s unveiling is a chance for neighbors, officers, and loved ones to gather in gratitude and remembrance, keeping Ella’s service and her humanity at the center.
“A hero like Ella deserves to be remembered for her sacrifice and her service,” said Alderman Marty Quinn (13th)
“This sculpture is a way for the community to honor her courage and to ensure her story lives on.”
The memorial was brought to life with the support of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, Quinn, Ald. Silvana Tabares, state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, state Sen. Mike Porfirio, the Chicago Park District, the Midway Chamber of Commerce, and the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch.
For her family, her fellow officers, and the community she served, the memorial ensures Ella’s story will never be forgotten