COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Family and friends gathered at a funeral service Tuesday for Pontoon Beach police officer Tyler Timmins, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.
The funeral service began at 11 a.m. at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville and was open to the public.
Shortly after the pastor began the service, Timmins’ widow, Linsey, took the podium to speak. She thanked everyone for their support and went on to talk about her husband’s courage and commitment to the badge.
“The word hero is defined in the dictionary as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. For me, the definition of hero was my husband,” she said.
She talked about how much she loved Timmins and how thankful she was for the time they had together.
“I loved Tyler, with every ounce of my being, and he loved me the same,” she said through tears. “Though I’m so sad that our lives together were cut short, I am grateful to have known the man that will always be my husband.”
Watch her full speech in the video below:
After she spoke, Pontoon Beach Police Chief Chris Modrusic took the podium. He began by giving his condolences to the Timmins family and went on to say how impactful Timmins’ death was to the department.
“Oct. 26, 2021 will be marked as the worst day in this department’s history, as so many lives have been changed,” he said.
Following the chief, a few others took the podium to pay their respects including Tyler's brother, Jake Timmins.
In Jake’s speech, he poked fun at his big brother, told stories from their childhood and gave a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported their family. Towards the end, Jake spoke directly to Tyler's wife and daughter.
“I cannot wait to repeatedly fail to fill Tyler’s shoes for you both because even though my feet are three sizes larger, nobody will ever be able to fill the humor, generosity and love that was and will always be Tyler,” he said.
Following the speeches, a good friend of Tyler took the stage and sang “Hallelujah.” After the song, Tyler’s stepmom Laura led the group in prayer. The pastor then spoke about Tyler and said a final prayer.
The funeral ended with Tyler's friend singing an acoustic version of his favorite song, "Ice Ice Baby."
After the funeral, a miles-long procession traveled to Woodland Hill Cemetery for a private burial. Hundreds of police vehicles led the way along the 19-mile route. The law enforcement escort itself was miles long.
The public was highly encouraged to line the procession route to show their support. People stood along the route, in medians and on grassy areas waving flags, holding signs and placing their hands over their hearts.
The hearse also briefly stopped along the route right outside the Pontoon Beach Police Department.
The visitation for Timmins was held Monday where hundreds of people attended the service to honor the fallen officer.
How to help the family
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial contributions be made to the Tyler Timmins Memorial Fund c/o SIUE Credit Union.
A contribution can be sent via Venmo or checks can be sent to:
Tyler Timmins Family Memorial Fund
99 Supporting Services Road
Edwardsville, IL 62026
Here are some other ways you can help the Timmins' family.
Watch the funeral service and funeral procession in the video below:
Background of the shooting
On Oct. 26, 36-year-old Timmins was investigating a possible stolen car at a gas station along Illinois Route 111 when a man started shooting at him. Timmins was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital where he later died.
The suspect, 31-year-old Scott Hyden, was arrested at the scene and was later charged with first-degree murder and is facing several other charges related to the shooting.
Timmins served as a police officer in Madison County communities for 14 years. Those who knew Timmins said his career as a police officer wasn’t about the gun and badge, it was about serving people.
"He was just one of those kids that everybody loved. A good student. A good kid. Life of the party, made you laugh,” said Butch McGill, who had Timmins as a student when McGill was a middle school principal.
His family also released a statement a few days after his death. They said while many people came to learn of him last week, he was loved and regarded as a hero for years.
“We will always remember his devotion to his family, his dedication to his career and community, and the love and laughter that he shared with us,” they wrote.