Flags are at half-staff in Hoopeston today as the community remembers its police chief. Chief Mark Drollinger died early today (July 6, 2017) at the age of 54 ending a year-long battle with cancer.
It was just this week that businesses around Hoopeston posted signs thanking Drollinger for his service. It was exactly one year ago today – on July 6th,, 2016 – that Drollinger went through what he called a ‘’very, very complicated surgery’’ after cancer was discovered in his mouth. Chief Drollinger talked about that surgery and his life in law enforcement on WDAN Radio’s Newsmakers program back on March 14th of this year.
On the show, Chief Drollinger noted that he never smoked or chewed tobacco. And he joked that he had always been afraid of dentists. But he urged people who find something unusual in their mouth to get it checked out.
Drollinger had worked with the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department from 1988 until 1999. Then he says he saw the ‘’golden opportunity’’ to be Chief of Police in his own community of Hoopeston.
He has been Chief there ever since. And although he was battling cancer, Drollinger would still go into his office when he could to work with his officers.
Drollinger was a big supporter of everyone in law enforcement. And when word got out that he was battling cancer it was more than just the community of Hoopeston that wanted to help. Bumper stickers and wrist bands can be found around the area reminding citizens to be ”Chief Strong.”
Hoopeston Police Chief Mark Drollinger….dead at 54.
