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15 officers who have died on duty in the suburbs since 1985

Fifteen police officers have died while on duty in the West and Northwest suburbs in the past 30 years. Some suffered heart attacks, while some, including Fox Lake police Lt. Charles J. Gliniewicz, who died Tuesday, were shot to death.

Sept. 1, 2015: Fox Lake police Lt. Charles J. Gliniewicz, 52. Shot to death while investigating suspicious activity.

March 29, 2013: Illinois state trooper James Sauter, 28, of Vernon Hills. Died when his squad car was hit from behind by semitrailer truck on I-294 near Northbrook. Sauter had finished helping a driver and was parked on the inside shoulder of the road.

Nov. 1, 2008: Schaumburg patrol officer Frank P. Russo, 47. Heart attack while struggling with a suspect fleeing a disturbance at a local club.

April 9, 2005: St. Charles Sgt. Daniel Figgins, 53. Heart attack while chasing a group of teens suspected of breaking into St. Charles East High School.

Aug. 25, 2002: Barrington-Inverness patrol officer Steven Graham, 53. Heart attack while attempting to make an arrest.

June 1, 2000: Hampshire police Sgt. Gregory M. Sears, 50. Shot to death while on patrol near Route 20 and I-90.

June 6, 1995: State Trooper Chong Soo Lim, 29. Killed when his squad car was rear-ended by a drunken driver on I-90, near Hoffman Estates.

April 20, 1992: West Chicago patrol officer Michael A. Browning, 23. Rookie officer struck and killed by man attempting to steal from auto dealership.

Jan. 5, 1990: State trooper April C. Styburski, 27. Fatally injured in a fall while investigating a property accident on Route 20 near Pingree Grove.

Nov. 23, 1987: Cook County corrections officer Jeffery B. Blakey, 41. Died from injuries attempting to stop inmate from escaping courthouse in Des Plaines.

Nov. 10, 1986: State trooper John H. Kugelman, 27. Run down by a motorist attempting to escape police in chase through Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village that ended on I-290 and Irving Park Road near Itasca. Kugelman drew his gun and pointed it at the motorist, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison. He was paroled in 2002.

Sept. 28, 1986: Lombard police Sgt. Allan Mollsen, 39. Heart attack while struggling with a suspect at the scene of a domestic dispute.

Nov. 5, 1985: Wheeling patrol officer Kenneth R. Dawson, 42. Shot to death responding to a burglary call on Cleo Court.

Oct. 17, 1985: Cook County sheriff's investigator Michael W. Ridges, 29. Shot to death while stopping vandalism suspects en route to a planned contract murder in Prospect Heights.

April 5, 1985: Hoffman Estates patrol officer Leland Pye, 54. Heart attack while attempting to subdue prisoner he was taking to police station.

Sources: Daily Herald archives; odmp.org (Officer Down Memorial Page). Note: In some cases, slain officer's “end of watch” date, rather than date of death, is noted.

Kenneth R. Dawson was a Wheeling police officer shot to death responding to a burglary call.
Michael Browning was a rookie West Chicago officer run over by a man stealing a car.
Hampshire police Sgt. Gregory Sears was gunned down in 2000 near Route 20 and I-90 in Hampshire.
Schaumburg patrol officer Frank P. Russo had a heart attack and died while struggling with a suspect.
Cook County sheriff's investigator Michael W. Ridges died in 1985 attempting to stop a contract murder in Prospect Heights.
Fox Lake police officer Joe Gliniewicz was killed Tuesday in the line of duty.
St. Charles police Sgt. Daniel Figgins had a heart attack while chasing teens suspected of breaking into St. Charles East High School in 2005.
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