A Tribute to those Officers who Died in Service to this Community

Officer Thomas J. Tinerella

1966

Officer Thomas J. Tinerella, age 41, married with 5 children (one married and the mother of Officer Tinerella’s first grandchild), and a 7-year veteran of the Streamwood Police Department, was killed when he was hit by a vehicle as he was directing traffic after a junior high school dance.

Sergeant Salvatore V. Genualdi

1967

Sergeant Salvatore V. Genualdi, age 35, married with 5 children, and a 7-year veteran of the Streamwood Police Department, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle that hit the squad he was standing next to at a roadblock.

A PART OF AMERICA DIED

Somebody killed a policeman today
And a part of America died…
A piece of our country he swore to protect
Will be buried with him at his side.
The beat that he walks was a battlefield too,
Where he had gone off to give his all.
Though the flag of our nation won’t fly at half-mast,
His name they will add to a memorial wall.
The Driver that killed him will stand up in court
With counsel demanding his rights,
While a young, widowed mother must work for her kids
And spend many long, lonely nights,
Yes, somebody killed a policeman today…
Maybe in your village or mine,
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors
A cop put his life on the line.
Now his ghost walks the beat on a dark village street,
And he stands at each new rookies side;
He answered the call…of himself gave his all,
And a part of America died.

~ From an Anonymous Author