Gov. Pritzker awards Medal of Honor to Rockford Police officer
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police Officer Jon Vargas was awarded the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor from Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly on Thursday.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to officers who performed acts of heroism.
Officer Vargas lost his former K9 partner, Nyx, in a shooting on January 28th, 2024.
According to police, Malik Trotter, 28, shot and killed the K9 during a police pursuit that ended in the 2900 block of 11th Street.
Police were able to track a phone to an 11th Street address. K9 Officer Jon Vargas spotted Trotter and a foot chase ensued, during which K9 Nyx was shot and killed.
Trotter allegedly shot at Vargas, and was shot in the leg by returned fire.
In April, the police department announced Vargas would partner with a new 2-year-old Dutch Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix, named .
Twenty-three officers from 10 police agencies were honored in Springfield today.
'Today, we pay tribute to our heroic police officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty while protecting our communities,' said Pritzker. 'From Palatine to Chicago to Granite City, our honorees saved lives and offered comfort and support to countless others. While we will never be able to repay their bravery in full, we hope that this recognition can serve as a public reminder of our gratitude and a symbol of the sincere reverence we hold them in.'
The 2024 recipients for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor being honored this year are:
Chicago Police Department
Officer Roy De La Huerta Officer Michelle Drapala Officer Edwin J. Gramajo Officer Luis M. Huesca Officer Omar Jimenez Officer Carlos Martinez Officer Enrique Martinez
Chillicothe Police Department
Officer David J. Buchanan
Cicero Police Department
Officer Luis Martinez Officer Reynol Ramos
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
Deputy Christina M. Musil
DeKalb Police Department
Officer Brian Bollow Chief David Byrd Sergeant Keunte Mallett
East Moline Police Department
Sergeant William R. Lind
Granite City Police Department
Officer Douglas B. Nicoson
Illinois State Police
Trooper Clay M. Carns Trooper Adam D. FittsMaster Sergeant Ross A. Green Trooper Corey S. Thompsen Trooper Blake D. Thompson
Palatine Police Department
Officer Shane P. Murray
Rockford Police Department
Officer Jonathan A. Vargas
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