Created by recommendation of the Board of Directors and approved by the members in May of 1980, The Hundred Club Valor Award may be given yearly to a Chicago police officer, a Chicago firefighter, a non-city law enforcement officer within Cook County and a non city firefighter within Cook County.

The recipients are chosen by the awards committees of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments, the Illinois Police Association and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, not by The Hundred Club of Cook County. Therefore, because of the stringent standards imposed by those peers, there might be times when The Valor Award will not be given.

The award consists of a double-faced plaque and a fine gold wristwatch having a retail value in excess of $1,500.00, as well as a medal with campaign bar, as pictured to the left. It is worthy of note that ours is the only civilian medal and/or campaign bar authorized by every department within the Club's jurisdiction to be worn on the recipient's uniform.

100 CLUB CHICAGO 2007 VALOR AWARDS

The Valor Award is presented in three out of four categories created for the possible recipients. The 100 Club does not select the recipients of our award, but rather they are chosen for us by their peers. This year there was no winner from the suburban fire departments. We thank those Awards Committees, who participated, for their continuing efforts on our behalf in selecting the winners.

Officer Felipe Nunez
Chicago Police Department
 Interim Superintendent Dana Stark

On December 8, 2006, Officer Nunez, a member of the SWAT team, and others in his unit were sent to the 38th floor at 500 W. Madison Street where a man was holding 25 to 30 people hostage at a law office. He had been escorted to the office by building security, ands was carrying a manila envelope. Once in the office, he closed and locked the door with a chain and padlock he had in the envelope and took out a revolver, a knife and a hammer. He began a shooting spree and killed three men and wounded a woman.  The shooting had attracted attention, and the police had been called. Responding units included the SWAT team.

As other officers exchanged shots with the man, Officer Nunez took a position about 45 years from the shooter. The man ran out of ammunition and grabbed another civilian as a shield as he reloaded his weapon. Once reloaded, he alternately pointed the gun at his own head and at the head of the person he was holding as a shield. Officer Nunez, seeing that the man was about to kill yet another civilian, took careful aim, waited his opportunity and made one shot,

Officer Nunez’ action not only saved the life of the shield, but also undoubtedly saved the lives of other people in that office, and were in the highest traditions of the Chicago Police Department.

Dectective Mark Metelski
Burbank Police Department
Chief Bruce W. Radowicz

On May 11, 2007, Dectective Metelski and other officers from several jurisdictions were conducting a stake out of a car at 98th Street and Nottingham Rd. in Chicago Heights, the car having been identified as having been used in several smash/grab and commercial burglaries. Two suspects got into the car and drove it away, all of the officers following it through several other jurisdictions, until they all reached 95th Street at 79th Court in Hickory Hills, where the following officers tried to force the suspect car to stop by “boxing” it with their own vehicles, Dectective Metelski’s vehicle was directly in front of the suspect car.

The officers got out of their cars with guns drawn, ordering the suspects to stop and get out of their car.  Instead, one suspect drove his car directly at Detective Metelski, hitting him, forcing his torso over the hood of the car while his legs were dragger under the car.

Showing quick thinking, courage and bravery, Detective Metelski was able to fire several shot in to the car, hitting both suspects. The driver continued to try to main him, running back and forth over him several times before being forced by the other officers to stop.

Detective Metelski’s actions symbolized the dedication and professionalism that all law enforcement officer should possess, and were in the highest traditions of the Burbank Police Department.

Firefighter John F. O’Brien
Chicago Fire Department
Commissioner Raymond Orozco

On October 20, 2006, Firefighter O’Brien and other members of Engine 96 responded to a still alarm of fire at 1145 N. Central Avenue at 0032 hours. Advised that a small child was trapped in an upstairs bedroom, other firefighters lead out a hose line from the front entrance and up the stairs in an effort to stop the spreading flames. Although assigned to Tower Ladder 14, Firefighter O’Brien was assigned to search for the child.

With a determined mind set and with full knowledge that only moments remained before the entire second floor would be engulfed in flames, Firefighter O’Brien fell to his hands and knees, crawled around the crew working the hose and, without the protection of the hose line, began to search through an area of super heated gases and dense smoke. Feeling his way around a door, he found a mattress, and under the mattress he found the apparent lifeless body of the missing child. Clasping him to his chest, he crawled back down the hall, down the stairs and out of the door to the front lawn where he immediately began rescue breathing until he was relieved by another firefighter who gave thee child CPR. He was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition.

Firefighter O’Brien’s actions, taken without hesitation or regard to his personal safety, were in the highest traditions of the Chicago Fire Department and undoubtedly saved the little boy’s life.