On October 28, 2007, at approximately 2:49 a.m., Trooper Brian McMillen, while responding to a request by a local officer for assistance, was involved in a fatal traffic crash with two additional vehicles. The drivers of the two additional vehicles have both been charged with Aggravated DUI.

Trooper McMillen graduated from Cadet Class #113 on February 2, 2007, having served as president of his cadet class. He grew up in Pana, Illinois. After high school, Trooper McMillen attended the University of Illinois, Springfield, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice in 2005.

Trooper McMillen not only served the citizens and visitors of the State of Illinois, he was also a proud member of the Illinois Air National Guard serving as a Tech Sergeant with the 183rd Security Forces Squadron Fighter Wing. Trooper McMillen enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in 2000. During his tenure he served three separate overseas deployments, the first being in 2002 where he served in Saudi Arabia as part of Operation South Watch. The second occurred in 2003 when he was deployed to Romania as part of Iraqi Freedom. Finally, in 2005, he was deployed to Italy.

Trooper McMillen is survived by his wife, parents, and 10 siblings.