The Hellenic American Police Association and St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago hosted a fundraiser on Sunday, September 27, to support the family of fallen Chicago Police Officer John G. Bartholomew. Held at Chateau Ritz Banquets in Niles, Illinois, the event honored an officer whose end of watch was April 25, 2026.
Fellow police officers, faith leaders and community members gathered to remember Bartholomew and support his wife and three children, five months after he was killed in the line of duty. The evening combined fundraising with tributes to his life and service, according to ABC7 Chicago.
The Chicago Police Department thanked the organizers and everyone who attended. “We thank the Hellenic American Police Association, St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago, and all who came out to support Officer Bartholomew’s family,” the department said in a social media statement.
Greek-American community pledges continued support for the Bartholomew Family
For members of the Hellenic American Police Association, the gathering reflected a commitment to stand alongside the family of a fellow officer and member of the Greek-American community. Retired Chicago police officer Gus Vasilopoulos, the association’s vice president, emphasized that connection.
“The Greek community came out strong and supported him also,” he told ABC7 Chicago.
Bartholomew’s family received a Medal of Honor during the event, the station reported. Speakers also pledged to remain present for his loved ones in the years ahead, acknowledging that their loss would endure long after the evening’s tributes.
The partnership brought together organizations with longstanding ties. Founded within the Chicago Police Department in 1993, the Hellenic American Police Association maintains its headquarters at St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Its mission includes preserving Hellenic culture and Orthodox faith while supporting the Greek community and the Church.
Remembering an officer killed in the line of duty
Bartholomew, a 38-year-old Greek-American husband and father, had served with the Chicago Police Department for a decade. He was fatally shot at Chicago’s Swedish Hospital on April 25 after accompanying a suspect who had told police he had ingested narcotics.
Prosecutors alleged that, while being prepared for a CT scan, the suspect retrieved a handgun from beneath a blanket and shot both officers. Bartholomew was killed, and his colleague was critically wounded.
That colleague, Officer Nelson Crespo, was also recognized during Sunday’s fundraiser as he continued his recovery. For Bartholomew’s family, retired Chicago Police Commander Elias Voulgaris, the association’s director, offered a promise of lasting support: “We will always be with you. I will always be with you.”
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