St. Charles cop gets Kane County's top award

A St. Charles police officer who tackled a suspect armed with a loaded gun was honored Thursday as Kane County's top cop.

James Burden, a 23-year veteran, was named Police Officer of the Year by the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association at a ceremony in Batavia. Twenty officers from 12 departments were nominated for the prestigious award, now in its 32nd year.

"I am deeply honored," Burden said to a standing ovation of his peers. "I'm thrilled to be here and accept the award on behalf of all of us, because we're all winners."

On May 15, 2008, Burden and fellow officers responded to an apartment on the 100 block of Walnut Drive for a report of an intoxicated person causing a disturbance. At the scene, the suspect, who was semiconscious, pointed a loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun at another officer.

"Officer Burden, with no regard for his own personal safety, tackled the suspect, took control of the firearm and moved it out of line from the other officer, disarming the suspect before the firearm could be used," St. Charles Police Chief James Lamkin wrote in nominating Burden. "The immediate reaction ... prevented this incident from escalating to a deadly event."

Police said the incident ended with the seizure of marijuana, hashish, drug paraphernalia and ammunition from the apartment, and the suspect's arrest on multiple felony charges.

As he accepted the award, co-sponsored by the Batavia Moose Lodge, Burden said he was grateful to a resident who was in the apartment and warned him of the weapon. "It's a reminder of how quickly a situation can change," he said. "You just never know what might happen."