Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Chong Soo Lim was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind and burst into flames during a traffic stop on the Northwest Tollway. Trooper Lim stopped a car on I-90 near Hoffman Estates. He was sitting in his squad car when a pickup truck struck the rear of his vehicle and forced it into the automobile in front of him. The force of the collision caused the gas tank to explode and trapped Trooper Lim inside. The 31-year-old driver, in the country illegally from Mexico, was arrested for DUI. He was later convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to eight years in prison. Born in South Korea, Trooper Lim patrolled District 3 in Chicago upon graduating from the Academy. He transferred to the midnight shift in District 15, Oak Brook, just one month before his death. He is survived by his wife. On June 5, 1996, District 15, Oak Brook, dedicated its operations area in memory of Trooper Lim.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-1EC631E9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Lim gave the Illinois State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Lim.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Chong Soo Lim is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Illinois State Police, 17 of 67 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Chong Soo Lim's cause is highlighted.
How Chong Soo Lim Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Chong Soo Lim is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Chong Soo Lim was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
66 officers from Illinois State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
