Brandon Ballenger has been a Rockford police officer since 2019.

He was assigned to work the first protest in Rockford following the murder of George Floyd on May 30th, 2020.

Ballenger was a riot cop equppied with a shield and full riot gear. He is involved in the one criminal case still active where it is alleged that Ballenger repeatedly - at least half a dozen times in a row - hit a nonviolent protestor with his shield.

On October 21st, 2020, Ballenger responded to a traffic stop of a vehicle that had been pulled over by RPD officer Lathaniel Best Jordan near the Kishwaukee Street & Behr Blvd intersection.

Also on the scene were RPD cops Timothy Shipbaugh, Christopher Pierson, and Brandon Wolf.

The stop was initiated after a shotspotter alert came and a black sedan was seen “acting suspicious” - the driver had his seat all the way leaned back - leaving the area.

By the time Ballenger arrived on the scene, cops were already speaking to the driver from outside thru the driver’s window. Best - Jordan told the driver to exit the vehicle so they could search it. Ballenger went to the passenger side window to try to speak to the driver when he drove off north on Kishwaukee.

The cops ran back to their vehicles to begin a high speed chase.

Ballenger followed down Kishwaukee when he seen one Rockford squad had crashed into the barrier in the parking lot of the Irish Rose Saloon. The cop was Christopher Pierson who had several cuts on his face and broke his leg.

In 2019, Ballenger made $14,504 in salary + $30,497 in pension pay.

In 2020, they made $54,996 in salary + $4,878 in overtime = $59,874 + $16,640 in health insurance + $33,025 in pension pay.

In 2021, they made $72,369 in salary + $10,467 in overtime = $82,836 + $16,120 in health insurance + $34,932 in pension pay.

In 2022, they made $71,965 in salary + $9,229 in overtime = $81,194 + $16,640 in health insurance + $39,700 in pension pay.

In 2023, they made $49,118 in salary + $79 in overtime = $49,197 + $16,640 in health insurance + $46,059 in pension pay.

In 2024, they $81,005 in salary + $16,361 in overtime = $97,365 + $16,952 in health insurance + $52,059 in pension pay.

If you or anyone you know has been abused, harassed, or otherwise mistreated by this officer please email us with the officers name in the subject.