In a touching ceremony today, Illinois State Trooper Brian Frank was awarded the prestigious Law Enforcement Medal of Honor. This accolade recognizes Trooper Frank’s courage during a tragic incident on February 15, 2021, where he sustained severe injuries from a vehicle that violated the Move Over Law. At a traffic scene in Will County, Trooper Frank had his emergency lights on when another car collided with his squad car. Governor JB Pritzker and ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly honored Trooper Frank for his exemplary bravery and his ongoing, challenging recovery process. The award was accepted alongside his wife, Lauren Frank, who has since become an advocate for the Move Over Law. This event not only honors Trooper Frank’s bravery but also underscores the critical importance of adhering to traffic laws designed to protect law enforcement officers on duty.
“One of the highest distinctions in all of law enforcement, the Medal of Honor is awarded to brave officers who put themselves in harms way to keep Illinoisans safe and protected,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Trooper Frank, in his service to Illinois State Police, and in the example he has set during his recovery, has set a high standard of bravery and made our state a better and safer place — especially for his fellow officers. This Medal of Honor will not even begin to repay Trooper Frank’s sacrifices, but I hope it serves as a reminder of the reverence we hold him in and the incredibly positive impact of his service.”
“There are not enough words to express the extreme gratitude for Trooper Brian Frank’s selfless sacrifice, nor the words to convey the heartache for his debilitating injuries,” said Committee Chair Kelly. “It is truly an honor to award Trooper Brian Frank the Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor.”
“Navigating Brian’s severe traumatic brain injury recovery and aftermath has been the hardest thing I ever could have imagined,” said Lauren Frank. “We are 3.5 years out and still waiting for Brian to return to full consciousness. The setbacks, the complications, the legal matters, the medical bills, the home life adjustments, just to name a few obstacles since the crash, have been incomprehensible. I am grateful to take a moment to pause and recognize Brian for the hero that he is. Amidst all the heartache, he deserves to be celebrated for surviving another year against all odds, for the sacrifice he made, risking and ultimately giving his life, to protect others. I am so proud of Brian and it is my honor to love him and fight alongside him for his healing. For today, this acknowledgment with the Medal of Honor is certainly a gift.”
The Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor is awarded by the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee to officers who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty or who have displayed exceptional bravery or heroism while performing their duties as a law enforcement officer. Due to his ongoing recovery efforts, Trooper Frank has been unable to attend previous awards ceremonies.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Committee was established in statute through the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Act in 1990. Current committee members include ISP Director Kelly, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Director Keith Calloway, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, DeKalb Police Department Chief David Byrd, retired ISP Master Sergeant and St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye, and Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg.
