CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt named the week of May 12-18 Police Week to honor peace officers who have either lost their lives or have become disabled in the line of duty.

May 15 was established nationally as Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962.

This comes at the same time as Chapel Hill’s fallen police officer, Detective Theodore Roosevelt Cole, Jr. is being named to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Detective Cole was killed in 1969 by someone he had previously arrested. On day, that person followed him to his home and shot him.

Cole was promoted to detective prior to being killed, but died before the official ceremony. He was given the title posthumously in 2012 at the First Annual Orange County Peace Officers Memorial Service.

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Fifteen Chapel Hill-Carrboro teens will hold an event called “Comics Speak!” Friday in the attempts to make their superhero, Blexican, as well known as Iron Man or Wolverine.

Blexican is a Black, Mexican, multiethnic super hero who fights racist villains. The teens behind the creation have been coached on how to develop this character and are ready to show him off at the “Comics Speak!” presentation at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.

The program that helped in the creation of this character was made possibly by the Chapel Hill Public & Cultural Arts Office, Sacrificial Poets, Volunteers for Youth, NC Dream Team, and The Ella Baker Women’s Center for Leadership and Community Activism. It brings together Black, Latino, and multiethnic youth to give them a way to express a message to the community.

Friday’s presentation can be seen from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the ArtCenter. It’s free and open to the public. Those who wish to speak to the artists will be able to do so at the event.