SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) — Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly joined law enforcement officials from across the state this past Wednesday for the annual Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony in Springfield, honoring 19 officers from six agencies for acts of heroism performed in 2025.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to officers who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, or who displayed exceptional bravery while performing their duties. This year’s recipients include officers who entered burning buildings, jumped into frozen ponds, wrestled armed suspects, and shielded civilians from gunfire, often in split-second decisions that saved lives.
Among the most sobering recognitions was that of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera, who was shot and killed on June 5, 2025, after chasing an armed man into an apartment building in the Gresham neighborhood, where she was fatally struck during the confrontation. Both armed subjects were arrested and charged.
Chicago Police Officer Larry Branch Jr. was honored for his response to a well-being check on July 4, 2025, where he entered a burning building twice in search of victims, ultimately finding an unresponsive child who had been badly cut and carrying him out of the collapsing structure while performing CPR.
In December, Glendale Heights Police Officers Marco Lomibao and Dennis Stachura responded in one-degree weather to a vehicle that had crashed into a pond. Officer Lomibao jumped into the frigid water to rescue a man who had gone under, while Officer Stachura went out onto cracking ice to reach the other victims.
Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Billy Quinn and Sergeant Benjamin Reichard were honored for their response to a stolen vehicle call in Lexington on February 6, 2025, during which a suspect opened fire on Sergeant Reichard. Both officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who survived. They then provided medical care at the scene.
Three Zion Police Department officers — Tai Coggins, Daniel Jeffery, and Haley Pacholsky — were recognized for physically wrestling a gun away from a suicidal man at a fast food restaurant in March 2025, taking him safely into custody without shots fired.
Carroll County deputies David Geesey, Ryan Guenzler, and Tyler Todd were honored after a suspect intentionally drove a vehicle into them following a high-speed pursuit in June 2025. Each deputy made split-second decisions to defend themselves before rendering medical aid to the suspect.
Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Mariotti received the medal for his role in rescuing two children directly endangered by an armed and suicidal suspect in Batavia in August 2025, working alongside officers while under fire.
Additional recipients included Chicago Police Officers Jorge Munoz, Oscar Asilis, Andrew Paulauskas, Edwin Carrillo, Timothy Bell, and Juan Alba-Chavez for separate incidents involving gunfire, suspect apprehension, and life-saving medical aid rendered under dangerous conditions.
“I am humbled to honor this year’s Law Enforcement Medal of Honor recipients — heroic police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty to protect our children, our families, and our communities,” said Governor Pritzker. “These officers showed exceptional courage in the face of danger, and that courage saved lives.”
The Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee was established in 1990 under the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Act.