Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

On behalf of my family, we are deeply saddened at the loss of this man. I have thought of his family many times over the years.

Jane Pumroy

January 18, 2023

October 1, 2022
I will always remember this day…50 years later I still weep for the loss of your life, for the deep sorrow your family endured and continues to endure. You are forever in the hearts, prayers, and memories of so many. On behalf of my family to yours:Thank you for your dedicated service to our community.

Mary Ann Kahl (Welzien)
Neighbor from Berkeley and High School Classmate of your sister

October 2, 2022

Patrolman Raymond,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Hillside. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

October 1, 2022

My name is Larry Brown I work with Tony the night before he was killed at proviso West high school. We worked together several times for basketball games football games I was a truant officers find the proviso West high school. My brother Jack Brown and I were involved in the search for Anthony.If I remember right Tony never had a chance to sleep in his new house after work and in the basketball game he went home and moved in the next day. That night he went on patrol that night and was killed!! God bless Anthony rayman!!Larry Brown

Larry brown
Cook county truant

May 25, 2022

I was with some retired officers from Hillside and Bellwood today and your name came up in our discussions. I can vividly remember my father, who was a Sergeant with the Westchester Police Dept that borders Hillside coming back from Coal City Illinois following a tip that you might have been taken there.. At the time I was a police cadet with the Addison PD and was hired in Westchester in 1974.
Our collective thoughts are still with you now as they were then. Rest in peace

Deputy Chief (ret) Sam D. Pulia
Westchester PD.

October 8, 2021

“ It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away…

…Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today”

49 years have passed… Know that not a day goes by that your family doesn’t think of you and miss you. You are thought of often, remembered fondly and loved each and every day. Rest peacefully with the angels, Uncle Anthony.

Katie
Niece

October 1, 2021

I was assigned to Desk Duty on the 10/1 Midnibht Shift at State Police District 3 HQ’s in DesPlaines. I heard the call on ISPERN of the abduction. Unfortunately there was little info other than the empty Squad Car and the Armed Robbery.
ISP Dispatcher Nate Perlman answered and handled the call.

I also knew Dave Williams and worked with him a few times before he transferred to the then IBI.

R.G. Klobucnik, former ISP #1583
ISP Dist. 3 (7/69-2/74) Dist.15 (2/74-1/89)

April 4, 2021

I was a new agent with the Illinois Bureau of Investigation a few months after the kidnapping occured. The night in question I was on duty as a Park Forest Police Department and heard the ISPERN dispatch. The case was solved by police work at it's finest by all agencies involved, especially S/A Dave Williams of the IBI. A documentary should be made and I'm surprised there wasn't! RIP Tony!! You will not be forgotten.

Former Special Agent Thomas P Naughton
Illinois Bureau of Investigation 72-81

December 7, 2020

In 1971, I was a brand new ATF agent. I stopped in at the Hillside to get a possible location of a witness. Officer Anthony Raymond was working the front desk and most friendly and helpful. I can't tell you how shocked I was to hear of his abduction and murder. He was the first officer I met who was murdered in the line of duty. There, would, unfortunately, be quite a few more in the next 46 years. I could tell, however, based on that brief encounter that Officer Raymond was someone special.

Peter J Donnelly, Retired Texas Deputy
Tarrant County, TX, US Postal Inspection Service, Chicago Police Dept.

October 13, 2020

I will always remember that day. Your father was my Dads cousin. And your Dad made me the most beautiful wedding cake with a fountain on top. You had the best parents and I will never forget the hurt they went through.
I remember going to your families bakery.
I know your in Heaven I think God has a special place in Heaven for our officiers.
It's 2020 now and I still think about you and your parents and your siblings. May you rest in peace.

Concetta Byerly
C. Romano Byerly

April 18, 2020

30 September 2019. You made the fateful traffic stop 47 years ago ... tonight. Have never forgotten you and your wonderful family. Forever in my heart Anthony!

Tom Hodge
Once connected via marriage

September 30, 2019

Rest in peace Patrolman Raymond. Tragic, but you'll forever be your family and community's honored hero!

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 15, 2019

When I was 9 years old, my mother told me and my siblings that you had been taken, and no one knew where you were. I remember hoping we would find you and would be able to rescue you, and take you to your family. The ideas of a child. I still wish you would have been found alive and returned safely to your family. I still to this day, feel the immense pain I felt then when my Mom told me you had been killed. I never knew you, and I had forgotten your first name, but, when I turned right to the page with your story in a book about local cemeteries, all the sorrow I felt when I heard about your death came flooding back. You truly are a HERO, you served, and you protected. I know you still watch over your brothers in blue. Rest peacefully now sir. We all love you.

M. H.
A sister in humanity

February 22, 2019

Fallen Officers Find a grave memorial Link https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16466377/anthony-charles-raymond

TF
Researcher

January 17, 2019

I knew Tony as a kid from the neighborhood. I was 11yrs. old when he was taken and many of the kids in town really respected him not only as an officer but as a friend,.Thats who Anthony was as a person,personality plus ;he reached out even to the rough around the edges kids and let us know he really cared about all of us. We loved him and thought of him as a friend. I put a memorial on my facebook page today,46 yrs later. I still think of him.
J .Sobol resident of Hillside 40yrs.

james Sobol
friend

September 15, 2018

I knew Tony as a kid from the neighborhood. I was 11yrs. old when he was taken and many of the kids in town really respected him not only as an officer but as a friend,.Thats who Anthony was as a person,personality plus ;he reached out even to the rough around the edges kids and let us know he really cared about all of us. We loved him and thought of him as a friend. I put a memorial on my facebook page today,46 yrs later. I still think of him.
J .Sobol onetime resident of Hillside

james Sobol
friend

September 15, 2018

Anthony you are in my heart always. I love looking back on the great memories of our family times. You are missed so much.
Rest In Peace my cousin you will never be forgotten.

Phyllis Fish
Cousin

July 30, 2018

I became a police officer because I wanted to stop bad people like the ones that took your life I was two years younger then you at the time my son became a Fontana calfornia police officer from the story I told about you when he was young god bless you and your family

Michael cafaro
Warenville PD

June 25, 2018

Happy birthday friend . This day never passes that I don’t think of you and remember with it during Mayeye how great it was growing up with you !!

Linda Allegretti

June 13, 2018

I did not know the officer. But I can say my step fathers brother Si was the one who killed the officer. I heard small bits and pieces of what happened. But I was just a small child at this time. The good news is Silas is dead.. His brother Douglas who was my step father is also dead.. I'm very sorry for the officer and his family. I can understand how they must feel. The entire Fletcher family is no good. I've too suffered by the hands of a Fletcher.. Also I found out Douglas knew everything about what Silas Fletcher had done.. He helped to bury officer Raymond.. Ironically Douglas had a son whos name was Silas also. Who walked in to a bank and robbed it for just 1800 dollars.. And died of a heroin overdose..

nena schmitxer
informed

April 12, 2018

The day Officer Raymond was abducted will be always etched in my memory. I prayed for his life. After several weeks passed, I had the sad realization that he probably didn't survive. I recall feeling angry and helpless.
When his body was found, the injustice and cruelty of his death enraged me. I will never forget Officer Raymond, even though I never knew him personally. Ironically, I was just remembering him again a few days ago when I was driving through Hillside on Mannheim and 290 on my way to work.
The tragedy of Officer Raymond's death is particularly painful because no one could find him despite heroic efforts. His memory will always remain with me.

Steven B. Uhrik
Family member of Police Officer

February 5, 2018

I remember 10-1-1972 like it was yesterday. Hillside police officer Anthony Raymond was abducted, while doing a traffic stop on the westbound entrance ramp on I-290.
This was after the sweedish manor smorgasbord was robbed at Roosevelt and mannhiem rd. I was in 7th grade when this happened and it's thought provoking 45 years later. God bless Anthony and his family he was 26 when murdered and his life cut short by savages , who I know are rotting in hell. Very very sad

Dan Anthony
Friend of police

February 3, 2018

45 years ago tonight—both a Sunday night. I don’t think a day has gone by that I don’t think of this. I first met Tony when he was dating my cousin, Margaret. I know she wanted to be called Marge, but I had grown up calling her Margaret and always have. I don’t remember whose house we were in when I met Tony, but I remember them asking me to go for a ride with them. Tony was such a cutie—and a real sweetheart. I don’t even know where we went—probably to the store; but I do remember all three of us in the front seat of the car. I think Margaret or I even had our feet up on the dashboard. Teenagers!
I was engaged to a rookie Roselle police officer the night of the kidnapping. He was on the force about 90 days at that point. I rode with him to the station for his 11-7 shift. He used to let me keep his car during the week because he could hitch a ride to work. I got about a block away from the station when I realized his keys were in the ignition. I went back and caught up with him as he was going to his squad car. He told me, “they just kidnapped a cop in Hillside.” I asked if it was Tony, but he didn’t answer. He had met Tony nine months earlier at my aunt and uncle’s New Year’s Eve party. I don’t know if he didn’t make the connection or didn’t hear me. Maybe Tony’s name had not been broadcast yet—even to the police.
Based on the expressway exit ramps at that time and where those 3 schmucks took Tony, I think they almost certainly drove through Roselle. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if my fiancé had stopped their car that night. But there wasn’t even a good description of the car or full license number at that point.
A long 10 ½ months until Tony was found. At the wake, it took about 45 minutes for all the police officers present to pause and salute in front of the casket. The next day was the largest funeral I have ever attended. Directly behind the funeral home was a cemetery. Stepping outside, I saw every driveway throughout the cemetery completely lined with squad cars from every Illinois city, Illinois Bureau of Investigation, others states, the FBI, and I think even Interpol. All had their lights flashing. What a sight! The procession to the cemetery was so long, it had to follow a very indirect route. Along the way, the sidewalks were lined with people to honor Tony.
I’ve driven by the house where they killed him. It looks like an ordinary house in the suburbs. I think it’s the original house; it looks like it fits in perfectly with all the others on the street. The last time I went, I wondered if the family living there now has any idea of the tragedy that occurred in their basement.

Jeanne LaDouceur
Cousin by marriage

October 1, 2017

I was 12 yrs old when Officer Raymond was abducted and murdered. I remember the news andthe manhunt trying to find him. 10 years later I became a police officer. Yesterday I was in Hillside in a new career since my police days and had to conduct some business off of Raymond Drive. I thought of Officer Raymond and shared his story with a girl I was speaking with. As I told his story I got goosebumps. After leaving there I had to drive down Manheim to the Eisenhower. I could not recall which ramp he was on at the time he was abducted but it did not matter. His presence still lingers there. I hope his wife and children know he has never been forgotten. It is 45 years later and there are those of us who still remember....forever in our hearts.

Liz former PO
None

July 21, 2017

Patrolman Raymond's story was read in Richton Park Police Department's roll call on 1-27-17 to honor him.

Sgt. James Galvan
RPPD (IL)

January 27, 2017