Visitation held for Tito Rodriguez, off-duty Chicago police officer killed in motorcycle crash

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Family and friends paid tribute to Tito Rodriguez, a Chicago police officer who was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

His visitation was held Friday at Mount Auburn Funeral Home in west suburban Stickney.

The 28-year-old was off-duty, riding on the Dan Ryan with friends last Sunday. Police said another car hit Rodriguez while attempting to make an abrupt lane change to avoid missing the 71st Street exit.

The driver, 50-year-old Dennis Anderson, was cited in the crash has been charged with an improper lane change and not having valid insurance.

The Rodriguez family can't believe their beloved son is gone.

"Manny's main priority was his family. The bond between Manny and his family is a special one," said Ian Rivera, family friend.

He said Rodriguez was incredibly excited when he was accepted onto the police force last year.

"He was very proud of who he was, very proud of his family," said Rivera.

Friends said Manny and his father and were very close, and a lot alike. Both loved their motorcycles and loved to golf.

"I've known Tito since he was a little boy. I golf at Columbus Park, I golf with his father, and it just destroyed me," said Robert Butler, family friend.

Rivera says the Rodriguez family is trying to cope with their loss.

"A lot of us are still in shock," said Rivera.

Rodriguez and his roommate, Roger Steele, had been friends since they were 6 years old. Steele described his friend as someone who had his act together and knew what he wanted out of life.

"He's really so many steps ahead of everybody his age," Steele said.

Steele said it was Rodriguez's lifelong dream to be a police officer. He had only been of the force for a year when he was killed.

"He's going to be irreplaceable as a friend," Steele said. "I can't imagine what family is going through."

A funeral procession is scheduled to begin at Mount Auburn at 10 a.m. Saturday and end at St. Pius Church in the 4300-block of Oak Park Avenue in Stickney. Mass is expected to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.