FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL - This past weekend, neighbors, businesses, and first responders packed downtown Main Street for "Rock the Blue," an event created to support three officers who were injured in the line of duty in Fairview Heights.
The benefit was organized by local businesses, including Copper Fire, Venue on Main, and Rachel's Side Bar in partnership with the Belleville Police Department (BPD), FOX2 reported. The fundraiser was held in honor of three officers that were recently injured in the line of duty.
One of the officers injured, Molly Muennich, attended the event six weeks after being shot in the face. Officer Andrew Ward was hit in the chest and Officer Herminio Raimundi was shot in the arm. "I woke up one early Sunday morning wanting to give back to our community and our local police," said Renae, co-owner of Copper Fire.
When Officer Muennich isn't in uniform, she coaches lacrosse at Belleville West High School, KSDK reported. "I mean they all have families and kids in sports and she's the coach," Connie Tilley, co-owner of Venue On Main, said. "All the girls just adore her. So, it was very tragic for them."
The city's downtown was instantly turned into a block party that was full of support for its officers. Those in attendance enjoyed a dunking booth, raffles, and photo ops with firefighters. The event was fun, but it had a very serious message: we need to support those who risk their lives for us every day.
"They work hard to protect everybody and sometimes it just doesn't work out for them," said on attendee, Maureen. Many residents from Belleville, Fairview Heights, and other surrounding towns showed up in full force. "Living in Belleville for so many years but also growing up in Fairview Heights. Supporting Belleville and Belleville supporting Fairview Heights and any other St. Clair police department," said Scooter, a Copper Fire employee.
"It makes me emotional to see the community's support," Renae added. One attendee, Martin, praised the venue's ongoing efforts, saying, "Copper Fire always does a great job ... they were a big part of it."
The timing of the event was meaningful. "It was right on the cusp of all of this happening with Fairview, and our chief of police has to go to Fairview, and we were like, yes it does and here we are," Renae said. Venue On Main and Copper Fire were just two of the main organizers after more than a dozen businesses decided to step up. "Not just Belleville, it was all over," Tilley said.
"People just reaching out to us. Can we put a basket in the raffle? Whatever we can do," she added. Organizers said they were hoping to hit $20,000 from Saturday's event. They're also potentially throwing a similar music festival in September that will support the BPD.
