'Highly Respected' Palatine Police Officer Was 'An Asset': Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Palatine Police Department released a statement Monday confirming the death of "highly respected" Palatine Police Department Officer Victor Lopez, who died Friday. According to a news release from the police department, Lopez, 49, died after suffering a medical emergency while the water at Petite Lake in Lake Villa. He had served with the Village of Palatine for 21 years, police said.

Before starting his career with the Palatine Police Department, Officer Lopez graduated from Western Illinois University, according to the news release. After graduation, he entered the United States Army and served as a military police officer while achieving the rank of first lieutenant.

The police department added that Officer Lopez then spent a short period working as a police and fire dispatcher at CenCom E9-1-1 in Round Lake Beach before his appointment with the Palatine Police Department in June 1999.

Officer Lopez served the police department as a field training officer, juvenile officer, and school resource officer, completing two assignments as the school resource officer at He completed two assignments as the school resource officer at Township High School District 211 Academy North High School from 2008 to 2011, and from 2015 to 2017, according to the news release.

The police department added that during his time at the school, Officer Lopez made great connections with the students and staff.

"His positive work attitude and calming demeanor was an asset while working in a school environment which garnered him high praise from the school’s administration," the police department said, in the news release.

Officer Lopez received several performance citations and letters of appreciation from citizens throughout his career. Most notably, the police department said Officer Lopez received a Department Life Saving Award for his actions during an August 2007 incident, during which he located a distraught teenager who, while speaking with Officer Lopez, took out a large knife and held it to his neck, harming himself, and therefore causing significant cutting injuries. Officer Lopez’s quick actions and life saving measures saved the teen’s life, the police department said.

In June 2019, Officer Lopez responded to a crash involving a vehicle that crashed into building, and was on fire. Officer Lopez risked his life and entered the burning vehicle to help get the driver out, according to the news release. Police added that he was commended for his bravery and selfless acts in an effort to save another’s life.

On Friday, Lopez had been swimming in the lake at about 5:45 p.m. when his friends noticed he was missing and began searching for him, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. They found him underwater and unconscious near their boat, pulled him from the water and began performing CPR on the man (now identified as Lopez), according to the news release. They then brought him to shore where emergency personnel and performed CPR on the man and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on him. He was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release. Deputies found no immediate signs of trauma or foul play and the Lake County Coroner's Office scheduled an autopsy.

"Officer 'Vic' Lopez will be truly missed by the members of the Palatine Police Department," police said, in the news release, adding that a memorial service is being planned for Officer Lopez, and details are unknown at this time.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.