Oswego police officers receive Medal of Honor awards

Two Oswego police officers were recently presented with Medal of Honor awards in an Oct. 13 ceremony in Springfield.

The Medal of Honor ceremony, presented by the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee, pays tribute to those law enforcement 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.

Oswego Officers Chad Dickey and Ben Hackl both received a Medal of Honor award for their response to a call involving a man with a gun threatening violence in August of 2015.

The officers encountered the man at a residence on Ashlawn Avenue in the Cedar Glen Subdivision and he opened fire. The two officers returned fire, wounding the man and quickly taking him into custody. The officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived. The man’s trial is still ongoing.

The two Oswego officers were among 25 officers from eight departments throughout Illinois that were awarded the Medal of Honor. The Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Act was signed into law in 1990 with the first ceremony being held in 1992.

The officers honored at this year’s ceremony make a total of 406 officers to receive Illinois’ highest honor since the inception of this prestigious award. Every year, Medal of Honor nominees are presented to the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee for consideration.