Will County Gazette

When Ann Dorn fell in love with police officer David Dorn, she hardly noticed that he was Black.

“There are so many mixed families nowadays,” Dorn told the Will County Gazette. “We are not black or white. We are one race, which is the human race."

Although his race was not a problem, it was the way her husband died that changed Dorn’s life. She received the unexpected news that retired police captain David Dorn allegedly had been shot and killed by a rioter looting a pawn shop after Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in St. Louis over the killing of George Floyd.

“My husband had been retired six or seven years already, so my level of fear for that to happen had decreased significantly,” Dorn said. “I never expected to get that knock on the door. I was in disbelief the day it happened because I thought David was in the basement.”

Charged with Dorn’s murder is 24-year-old Stephen Cannon, according to a statement online from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office.

“It's not a black or white issue," Dorn said. "These young people have no respect for human life. Life is not a video game. You can't hit reset and everybody comes back to life. This young man shot David in cold blood, calling him an old man and using an expletive. There was no rhyme or reason to it. My husband wasn't threatening him. My husband wasn't even speaking to him when he shot him.”

Dorn gained national recognition after speaking in support of President Trump and the police at the Republican National Convention on Aug. 27.

“BLM is talking about taking money away from the police and giving it to social services,” said Dorn, who works as a police officer in St. Louis. “It's not the funding of other services. It's a matter of putting those services to work the right way. There are social workers out there ready to work. We just have to give them the work and put them to work. It's a matter of figuring out how to put the services to work within the communities better than what they are now.”

Dorn is a featured speaker at Konow Farm on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at 16829 Cedar Road in Homer Glen. The Will County GOP is a sponsor and GOP Jamboree is hosting.  

“Overall, our goal is to infuse modern, inclusive American culture into the Republican Party through the promotion of musical artists,” said Robert Cruz, event organizer. 

In addition to Dorn, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President John Catanzara will speak while Milk N Cooks, Bryson Gray and Emcee Jon T Gilliam will perform.

Dorn plans to announce the name of a foundation in honor of her late husband. 

“We're starting a scholarship foundation,” she said. “We're raising money for scholarships for inner city kids. My youngest daughter came up with the name. The acronym is DAVID. It's dedicated to my husband and achieving victories and inspiring dreams.”