Armed Robbery With Off-duty Deputy

  NARRATIVE:  Sheriff Richard Meyers is releasing information concerning the armed robbery and shooting at Marie’s Pizza, 1513 Charles Street in Rockford on Saturday night, October 2, 2011. Deputy Frank Pobjecky is 29 years old and was off-duty at the time of this incident.  He was a customer patronizing the business and he was acquainted with the establishment’s owner and family.  Deputy Pobjecky was hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy on May 9, 2008, and is a veteran of the United States Army.  During his enlistment in the Army, Deputy Pobjecky was deployed to Iraq.  Deputy Pobjecky is currently on paid administrative leave, which is the standard department procedure for these types of incidents.  The Rockford Police Department continues to conduct the investigation into this incident.   When the criminal investigation is complete, Sheriff’s personnel will conduct an administrative review of this matter. 

Although those processes are yet to be complete and this is not a final decision or determination of what occurred, it appears that Deputy Pobjecky reacted in a manner which is consistent with departmental policy and his training when faced with a violent, life-threatening confrontation with multiple armed robbery suspects.  Deputy Pobjecky’s actions were dictated by the actions of four individuals who were committing a violent forcible felony.