About 100 people are honoring Officer Richard Morton Thursday, nearly 50 years after his death.
Morton is the only police officer from East Moline to die in the line of duty.
Retired officer Robert Butcher was Morton's partner at the time of his death. He spoke Thursday at a memorial on Morton Drive in East Moline.
"I couldn't ask for another partner. He was always there for you. You knew he had your back, and you could depend on him. That's always important."
Morton was shot and killed on May 25th, 1969 responding to a report of a man threatening children with a BB gun. When Morton and his partner arrived, the man pulled out a revolver and shot Morton in the chest.
Morton was 30 years old.