North Aurora Deputy Chief Joe Gorski (left) with Officer Chris Joswick after the award ceremony
(credit North Aurora Police Dept. Facebook page)
Law enforcement officials from across the state honored the acts of heroism performed by local and state officers during the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony today in Springfield. The Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee awarded 136 officers from 41 agencies the Medal of Honor in recognition of their brave and sacrificial service to the citizens of Illinois.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to officers who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty or who have displayed exceptional bravery or heroism while performing their duties as a law enforcement officer.
The ceremony was the first held since 2016.
Here are the Kane County area recipients.
Aurora Police Department
Officer Alexander Lopez
Officer Andrew C. Soderlund
In 2022, the officers rescued a boy from an icy pond.
Carpentersville Police Department
Sergeant Kevin M. Stankowitz
Officer Ian R. Abrahamsen
The pair apprehended a gang member who opened fire on them in 2019..
North Aurora Police Department
Officer Christopher M. Joswick
Office Joswich in 2017, freed a hostage from an inmate the Kane County Jail who was undergoing treatment at Delnor hospital in Geneva.
(Courtesy Kane County Connects)