LOVES PARK (WIFR) -- Deputy Frank Pobjecky was honored tonight as a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year because of his actions taken the night of the attempted robbery at Marie's Pizza.

You may recall back in October, Pobjecky was off-duty when he shot and killed 16-year old Michael Sago.

Michael along with Lamar Coates, Brandon Sago and Desmond Bellmon allegedly tried to rob Marie's Pizza in Rockford. Pobjecky was found to be justified in the shooting.

Tonight the VFW post 9759 in Loves Park recognized Pobjecky and five other officers. It's part of the 34th Annual Law Enforcement Night.

Each area department nominates who they think fits the description of officer of the year and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department has a few.

"It shows that they appreciate our hard work that we've continued to do in the past year and throughout our entire career and being a fellow veteran myself of Iraq, it means even more to me because they understand what I've been through and where I've been at in my life," says Pobjecky.

"It means a lot to be recognized by the VFW, the sheriff's a veteran so it just means a lot to be recognized by your peers, it's something you don't get all the time," says Deputy Joseph Broullard.

Loves Park Police Officer Joshua Hacker, Illinois State Police Officer Brent Massingill, Cherry Valley Police Officer Ken Fry and Northern Illinois Task Force Inspector Michael Rach were also recognized for officers of the year.