Aurora, Elgin officers share Kane County award

Two Kane County police officers have named co-winners of the Louis Sphuler Award for outstanding work in 2021.

Aurora Detective Christopher Cox and Elgin Senior Patrolman Justin Brown received the awards at a banquet in Geneva, according to a news release Thursday from the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association.

Cox was part of the investigation of a shooting and carjacking on Jan. 16, 2021. Three people ultimately were charged in the case, with the last arrest coming five months after the crime.

Brown helped save a man's life after a car fell off cinder blocks and trapped him on Nov. 14, 2021.

Brown used a jack to lift the car off the victim, then performed chest compressions until paramedics arrived. The man recovered from his injuries after a long hospital stay.

The Louis Spuhler Award is named after a retired sheriff's office lieutenant who approached the Batavia Moose Lodge with an idea to recognize Kane County's top police officer. Spuhler died before he could see his idea put into action.