Schaumburg police officer dies in line of duty

A decorated Schaumburg patrol officer died early Saturday after a foot chase and struggle with a man who had been kicked out of a local bar.

Officer Frank Russo, who lived in McHenry County with his wife and two children, was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m. at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, said Sgt. John Nebl, the department's public information officer. An autopsy shows Russo died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Russo, 47, was a 19-year veteran on the force and is the first officer to die in the line of duty for the Schaumburg Police Department, Nebl said.

His star will be added to a memorial wall at the police department that commemorates other officers who have died. The department also has purple bunting up to commemorate Russo and is flying its flag at half-mast.

Russo was a well-liked street officer known for his work ethic and sense of humor, said Nebl, who worked the midnight shift with Russo for three years in the 1990s.

Nebl said Russo enjoyed the working the late-night shift because the cases were so different from the ones that came up in the morning.

"He was a great guy. He was a good police officer. He had a great sense of humor. He rolled up his sleeves to help his fellow officers. He was out there beating the bushes every night looking for the bad guys," Nebl said. "It's absolutely shocking."

Russo and his partner were working an extra detail at the John Barleycorn nightclub, 1100 American Lane in Schaumburg, when they were summoned by the club's security to help in a struggle with a man who was being removed from the club.

The man and a friend then fled the scene on foot. Russo and his partner located the two suspects a block away at a shopping center in the 1000 block of East Golf Road. The two officers struggled with the suspects as they tried to arrest them and that's when Russo collapsed to the ground, Nebl said.

Russo's partner immediately called an ambulance, which took Russo to Alexian, where he was pronounced dead, Nebl said.

The two men are in custody in the case. They have not been charged, Nebl said.

Asked if the two could be charged in the officer's death, Nebl said it depends on what the investigation reveals and the determination of the Cook County State's Attorney's office as to what charges are appropriate.

An officer who is a good friend of Russo's has been named as the liaison to Russo's family to help them with funeral arrangements and other issues. Nebl said the department has protocol to honor fallen officers but would follow that only if the family desired it.

There was no indication that Russo had any health problems before the heart attack, Nebl said.

Schaumburg Director of Police Richard Casler said Russo's death leaves huge gap in the department.

"It's tragic. He's going to be missed. He's one of those people who helped build trust in the community and exemplified all of our values," Casler said.

He said it will take time to heal. "It's a big hole. It takes people a while to realize it's even happening," said Casler, who was by the Russo family's side at the hospital overnight.

"It's been pretty difficult for them," Casler said. "They're trying grapple with the enormity of losing a father and husband and brother."

Russo received a number of awards during his years on the force. They include three honorable mention awards: One was for his attention to duty, initiative and persistence in arresting suspects involved in numerous criminal damage to property crimes in 2000. Another came in 2002 after he and a fellow officer arrested a suspect in possession of drugs that led to the arrest of another person with 1,000 tablets of Ecstasy. The third honor was for his work in 2004 when he responded to a well-being check on a suicidal subject, Nebl said. The man shot a gun through the front door at the officer, but surrendered after a two-hour standoff.

Russo also was honored for his involvement in an undercover operation dealing with prostitution and massage parlors and for his part in increasing DUI arrests, Nebl said.

• Daily Herald Staff Writer Nadia Malik contributed to this report.