SILVIS, Ill. — QC Custom Tees in Silvis is helping run the "Lind Strong Fundraiser" to raise money to donate to the family of the East Moline police sergeant assaulted by an arson suspect earlier this week.
Police say 52-year-old Adrian Rogers attacked Sgt. William Lind Monday in East Moline after Rogers fled the scene of a fire he allegedly set at a Rock Island home earlier that afternoon.
He's been in the ICU at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria in critical, but stable condition, according to East Moline Police Chief Jeff Ramsey.
"It's been a very difficult, long week, a lot of sleepless nights," said Captain Jason Kratt. "It's been very, very difficult for everyone involved. There's a lot of emotions going on. A lot of, from anger of why this happened to obviously sadness and concern, caring for the family."
QC Custom Tees makes thousands of custom shirts for local businesses, and owner Michael Slyter said about a quarter of his business is helping with fundraisers. The "Lind Strong Fundraiser" went live on Thursday after a friend of the sergeant reached out with the idea.
"Typically... we will take a few days to get it going, but we kind of told the staff what we're doing, let's get this going," Slyter said. "It's important now because with everything going on, we want to make sure it's fresh, and we want to try to raise as much money as possible for the family."
Within the first hour of the store going live, he said there were around 100 orders. As of Friday morning, it was at 460.
At least $5 will be donated to the Lind family from each purchase. That means over $2,000 has been raised so far. Slyter hopes they sell at least 1,000 shirts.
"It hit everybody kind of hard," Slyter said. "We hope the best for Billy and his family. I have no idea what they're going through, I can't even imagine, but just to be able to give them a check, to say here, it kind of helps with the pain a little bit. It's very rewarding."
QC Custom Tees will be screen printing the shirts with an East Moline Police Department logo on the front and a logo on the back that reads "Lind Strong." The online store is open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. As of now, the store anticipates having orders complete within 2-3 weeks of the store close date.
You can place an order by clicking/tapping here.
"Just with everything that the community has done, it has really helped with morale," Kratt said. "Everybody that's reached out and talked about how much he's meant to everybody and how he's a fighter and he'll get through this, really does men a lot. We all love Bill so much."
Kratt has worked with EMPD for 17 years and trained Lind when he first started. He described him as a hard worker who gets along with everybody.
Several members of the department have been down to Peoria to visit Lind and his family, Kratt said.
He also emphasized how grateful the family has been for the support they've received from the community.
The East Moline Police Department released the following statement Friday on behalf of the Lind family:
"We are so thankful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends, medical staff, the east moline police family, and community. It has given us the strength we need to navigate this journey. We want everyone to know we see you, feel you, appreciate you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Billy has a long road ahead of him, but we are so blessed that there IS a road."
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 96 also has a Venmo account to collect donations to help support Sgt. Lind and his family. All the proceeds will go to covering expenses for his family, including travel, food, hotels and more for the duration of his hospitalization.
To make a Venmo donation, click/tap here. Donations are also being accepted ad the East Moline Police Department building.
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