Twenty years ago on May 19, 2003, shortly before 10 p.m., Tracey Hall, 35, was on her way to the Portage Police Department, where she worked as a dispatcher, when she was struck and killed by a drunken driver on U.S. 20. Her death shattered the department and, although the city of Portage no longer runs their own 911 dispatch, Hall’s memory lives on through an award in her name, annual memorial service and a permanent display in the department lobby.
“I was out with co-workers from U.S. Steel on the night she died, and received a call from my husband at the time who was a Portage police officer,” said Dawn Hall Haskell, Tracey’s sister. “When I arrived at my mom’s, the whole block was full of squad cars. I remember my mom just sitting there on the porch with my nephew and I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
Hall left behind a 6-year-old daughter, Ariana, and an 11-year-old son, Joey. Ariana had just spoken with her mom on the phone moments before the accident.
“Tracey made her presence known for a long time even after she had passed,” said Haskell. “She had a huge heart and she is always with her children.”
“Here we are 20 years later, and the Portage Police Department is still so incredible to our family,” said Haskell. “They still remember her and talk about her. I cannot say enough about that department.”
“She was a remarkable person,” said Patrick O’Connor, who worked as a dispatcher with Hall. “The thing I remember most about her was her smile and bubbly personality. You could be having the worst day at work, and she could always make you laugh.”
“And she was an amazing mother to her two kids,” said O’Connor. She always was talking about them and would do anything for them.”
Hall’s children are now 26 and 31 years old. Joey went to college in Iowa and now lives in Chicago working for a logistics company. Ariana is at Drexel University in Philadelphia getting her master’s degree in community health and will be married next year.
A gathering was held at Woodland Park Friday, commemorating National Police Week, and the Tracey Hall Memorial Citizen of the year was named. This year’s recipient is Portage resident Donald Cromwell.
“He was concerned about a co-worker who hadn’t been to work, and he reached out to her. When she said she was not OK, he immediately went to her house to check on her. He found her to be intoxicated, and immediately called police,” according to the award.
Police found the home to be in a deplorable condition, and a 2-year-old child was living there. Cromwell’s actions allowed the family to get help.
“Many citizens don’t want to get involved, but Cromwell went above and beyond and reached out to us to help his co-worker. Both the mother and child needed help and things could have ended tragically if it had not been for Mr. Cromwell,” said Portage Police Chief Michael Candiano.
Friday’s gathering of over 150 people, including police officers and their families, also included a catered lunch, games for the families, and guest speakers.
“You are bigger than life to me,” said Mayor Sue Lynch, whose late husband was a state police officer. “It takes a special person to do what you do. You get up every day, you put on a uniform, and you don’t know what your day will bring. Not everyone can do that.”
“You certainly didn’t do it for the money,” said Lynch. “You do it because you respect the law. I respect you greatly for that. Today, from myself as your mayor, and all the citizens of Portage you protect, thank you.”
Deena Lawley-Dixon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
