On behalf of Mayor Robert J. Lovero, City staff, and the Berwyn Police and Fire Departments, our heartfelt condolences and sympathy go out to the Denger family and the surviving brother and sisters for their loss relating to the tragedy that occurred in the 2800 block of Lombard Ave last week. The family will be dealing with very challenging times ahead in coping with the short and long term effects of this tragedy. This was a traumatic and disturbing event for those directly involved, from the family, to the community, and to our first responders from the Berwyn Police and Fire Departments. Our compassion is with everyone.

The loss of a young child is a horrific event, and blame can and will be directed at numerous people and entities. There are many social dilemmas that each of us face in everyday life. There are occasional breakdowns in many of our social systems, which unfortunately can lead to hardships such as this. Grieving is a process that goes through many personal phases and can take time for recovery. As a community, we can look at this recent tragedy in many ways, and I personally can’t think of a better way to honor young Matthew Denger than by carrying out something positive in his memory. As we work together for and with our community, please contact the Berwyn Police Department anytime for assistance at 708.795.5600, or for immediate police or fire emergencies call 9-1-1.