My fellow officer was killed on 10/23/06 while he sat in his K-9 truck.  His name is Tom Wood, 7 year veteran and father of 5.  It was close to end of shift when officer down call comes out and everyone rushes to the scene.  We arriver on scene and several officers assist FDs taking him out of his truck and I learn that it looked like he was shot in the face or head and that he wasn't responsive.  Being on the department only 3 years I have never been so confused in my life.  Luckily some of the senior officers arrived and started us working the scene.  Unfortunately we weren't able to get any offender(s) and minimal witnesses.  We later learned that he was shot 4 times in the face/head, but his partner "Daro" was ok.  This is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with and hope never have to deal with again.  It helps to see the support from other officers that didn't even know him.  Today was his wake and there was over 1000 people at the wake mostly officers and it makes me feel better to see what kind've brotherhood I belong to.  

Rest in peace Brother  

Please pass on our condolances to the family.  Remember that Tom Wood died in service of his community and country, and that even though we as a group may not have known him we do appreciate his ultimate sacrafice. I hope that the murderer is captured soon, and some form of justice is imposed.   Take care.

Suspect in officer murder held on no bond on other charges
   

By Angela Rozas
Tribune staff reporter

October 28, 2006, 6:43 PM CDT

The man being questioned in connection with the slaying of Maywood Police Officer Thomas Wood was ordered held without bail Saturday on unrelated gun and drug charges.

The 29-year-old Maywood man is suspected in the slaying and allegedly told West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force officials, in a videotaped statement, that he had a shotgun at home, said Assistant State's Atty. Jamie Santini.

Wood, 37—a seven-year veteran of the Police Department—was shot to death in his canine-unit sport-utility vehicle Monday night. He was the first officer killed in Maywood police history.

In Bond Court on Saturday, Santini said that when police searched the man's home, they allegedly found a shotgun, 94 rounds of ammunition and 16 grams of cocaine. The shotgun was apparently stolen from another resident, Santini said.

Prosecutors argued that the man had violated terms of his bond for charges of drug possession in April in Broadview, and they asked that he not be released. Judge James Zafiratos agreed and ordered $1 million bail on new charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, no valid firearm owner's identification, possession of a controlled substance and possession of ammunition.

The man's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Tony Eben, told the judge that the only reason police allegedly found the shotgun and other items was because the man was a suspect in the murder, and said police want to hold the man to ask him more questions.

"We anticipate he will be available to police to further horse-shod him for information ... information he does not have," Eben said in court.

After the hearing, Eben said he wanted to make sure the man's rights were protected, considering he was being interviewed in the officer's case by other officers from the same department. Eben also said that he believed the man knows nothing about Wood's slaying, and that police may have other suspects.

Maywood police have not named any suspects in the slaying.

The man, whom the Tribune is not naming because he has not been charged with Wood's slaying, is a graduate of Proviso East High School and has been a landscaper for the last four years, Eben said. He has children and lived with extended family in Maywood.

The man is expected in court again Nov. 15.
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

RIP.  Prayers for his family, friends, and co-workers.