Kendall County Deputy Honored After Saving Suicidal Man

A Kendall County Sheriff's deputy was recently honored for his role in saving the life of a man who threatened suicide, police said.

Deputy Robert Lechowicz, who has been with the sheriff's office for three years, was recently dispatched to the Fox River bridge on Route 30 west of Briarcliff Road in Montgomery, after callers told police a male subject looked as though he was going to jump.

According to police, the bridge is about 100 feet over the shallow, rocky waters of the Fox River.

Lechowicz arrived on the scene to find the male removing his shoes, then running towards the edge of the bridge. Lechowicz placed himself in harm's way by grabbing the male as he was on top of the ledge attempting to jump off the bridge, police said.

The man was later transported to the hospital without injury.

"Deputy Lechowicz clearly went above and beyond the call of duty," said Sheriff Richard Randall.  “He personifies what Deputy Sheriffs are here for, helping people in their time of need."

Lechowicz was recently honored at the Oswego Optimists Clubs Respect for Law Banquet, where he was honored as the Kendall County 2013 Officer of the Year, for his efforts in crime reduction through proactive policing. Lechowicz was also given a life-saving award at the banquet for his role in a 2013 incident in which he arrived on scene to assist medics, to find a patient that was unresponsive. He immediately began CPR, which was cited as saving the individual's life, police said.

“It’s just what we do," Lechowicz said when asked about the incidents.