Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Leo Burakowski was killed in an automobile accident while patrolling the Illinois Tollway near Libertyville. His patrol car left the roadway and struck a guard rail which impaled the car for its entire length. Trooper Burakowski was thrown from the wreckage and received fatal injuries. Trooper Burakowski had served with the Illinois State Police for one year and was assigned to District 15. He had previously served as a U.S. Air Force military policeman and was a WWII veteran.
Survivors
Trooper Burakowski was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-2FDDE0C2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Leo. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Burakowski gave the Illinois State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Leo S. Burakowski served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Leo S. Burakowski is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Illinois State Police, 49 of 67 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 73.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leo S. Burakowski's cause is highlighted.
How Leo S. Burakowski Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Leo S. Burakowski is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
66 officers from Illinois State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
