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Dragnet: Fallen Officer Multi-Cache

Hidden : 8/10/2020
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


This is the city, Downers Grove Illinois. Population 49,387. Residents come in all sizes, colors, sexual orientation, race and religion. The DG Police Department is here to serve and protect the residents and their property. Officers never know when they may find themselves in harm's way. Sometimes danger appears when least expected. This story is true. The name has not been changed. The story bears repeating.

It's March 17, 1974, a pleasant Monday and police officer Barth is patrolling the south side of town. It's been a quiet day thus far: Only an absent-minded driver stopped for running a stop sign and a lost child reassured and returned to his home.

Late in the afternoon the Officer notices suspicious activity in a city park. He approaches two teenage boys to question them. The boys are acting oddly, nervous and say their names are Tommy age 13 and Jimmy age 14. They indicated that they live "over there", pointing to the neighborhood. Unbeknownst to Officer Barth, the boys had committed a burglary earlier and were going through the stolen items when the Officer interrupted them. In the blink of an eye Tommy pulled a handgun out and shot the officer ending his life on the spot.

Epilogue The officer had served with the Downers Grove Police Department for two years; his life cut short at the age of 25. He was survived by his wife. The juvenile who shot Officer Barth was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison. He was released in 2003 after having served 28 years of his sentence. The featured pond in this park bears Officer Barth’s name.

To find the final cache you'll need to closely examine the historical marker at the posted coordinates.

Final cache coordinates are:
N 41° 47.073 plus badge number
W 87° 59.992 minus lodge number

Greenback 2008 Geocoin in cache is for anyone who never received such a coin. Please do not take one if you already have one.



Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Fznyy Ybpx-a-ybpx ba gur tebhaq arkg gb n ybt

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)