Detective Kevin Darrell Rice Sr., 38, was an off-duty Rockford Police Department officer when he was shot and killed on the night of August 3, 2001. While investigating suspicious activity in his sister’s neighborhood, he turned his vehicle to approach two men; one produced a .380 semi-automatic handgun and shot Detective Rice six times in the chest. He later died of his injuries.

A 19-year-old, identified in reports as William Buck, was arrested the following day. Prosecutors said Buck was committing a burglary at the time and that Detective Rice was acting as a police officer when he was shot. The jury deliberated eight hours before finding Buck guilty of first-degree murder; he was later sentenced to 60 years in prison. Detective Rice’s death was ruled a line-of-duty death. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Who in Rockford remembers Detective Rice’s service or has information about the events that night?