Decatur police officer Robin G. Vogel, 37, died at 11:21 p.m. Monday in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana from injuries she suffered in a car crash while she was on duty October 1, 2005. Officer Vogel's squad car was broadsided by another vehicle at the intersection of Main Street and Pershing Road in Decatur at approximately 4:00 a.m.

With Macon County Sheriff Deputies filling the vacant patrol positions, a slew of Decatur squad cars escorted Vogel's body from Urbana back to Decatur early Tuesday in tribute to their fellow officer.

Robin served the Decatur Police Department for six and a half years, and was married to Mike Vogel, a patrol officer with the Springfield Police Department. Robin is survived by her son, parents and two sisters.

Visitation for Officer Vogel will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Decatur from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. A special walk-through will be held for all SPD officers at 6:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the same location on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

PBPA Unit #5 extends its deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to Mike and the entire Vogel family. Robin was among Our Finest...

Our Finest

Not like the cops and robbers on a prime time TV show,
nor like the Sherriff in the Old Wild West
who would face and shoot the foe,

The officers who guard our streets are mortals, as we all,
who choose to work for a greater good
and in their work stand tall.

Standing a hedge against the forces that seek to hurt and kill,
each day they risk body and mind,
their duty to fulfill.

And when the dreaded call goes out that one of them is down,
with loyalty and amazing speed,
the fraternity gathers 'round.

They protect us from ourselves, they protect us from each other;
no finer service can be performed
than to stand in harms way for another.

Reproduced from Iatwah