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Deputy Frank Pobjecky, Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, Illinois

Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery
Description

On October 1, 2011, Deputy Frank Pobjecky was off-duty when four armed robbery suspects entered the business he was patronizing. As one of the suspects displayed a handgun and pointed it at the owner, a struggle began.

Deputy Pobjecky was not armed at the time, but during the struggle he gained control of a firearm that was in the possession of the business owner. In order to protect his life and the lives of others in the business at the time of the robbery, Deputy Pobjecky fired at and struck each of the suspects.

One suspect died at the scene and the other three wounded suspects were apprehended outside of the business by arriving Rockford police officers. Officer Pobjecky, who was initially unarmed, was able to successfully respond to a real-time, dynamic situation and acted in defense of his life and the lives of others.

A group of three people standing together. The man in the middle is holding a Badge of Bravery award.
Deputy Frank Pobjecky was privately presented with his 2011 State and Local Congressional Badge of Bravery and Attorney General's Certificate in the summer of 2014, and he was subsequently publicly honored on October 24, 2014, during an event hosted by his congressional Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL 16th District), and Senator John McCain (AZ).