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"The men and women of the Illinois
State Police are to be praised for their dedication to protecting
the citizens of this state," Gov. Blagojevich said. "Their hard work
and commitment to duty is leading to a safer Illinois. They've
helped to reduce fatalities on our highways and raise the seat belt
and sex offender registry compliance rate."
Officer of the Year recipient Trooper
Clint Thulen's criminal interdiction work in District 7 continued to
set new records during 2004. With a total of 12 major interdiction
seizures during the year, he demonstrated his abilities to have a
direct impact on criminal activity on Illinois highways. When not on
patrol, Thulen provides drug interdiction training for state police
personnel and local law enforcement officers and serves as a K-9
handler. His interaction with fellow officers, as well as a variety
of county, state and federal agencies, always reflects positively on
the Illinois State Police. He has a positive outlook and exemplifies
the highest standards of the agency.
Telecommunicator of the Year Martin
Bourgeois has displayed the highest levels of professionalism,
attitude, optimism and loyalty during his 21 years with the Illinois
State Police. Bourgeois routinely displays extraordinary job
knowledge and serves as a stellar mentor to new employees. During
2004, he was the sole teacher-mentor for the Pontiac Vocational
students who came to the radio room twice a week to observe and
learn the radio operations. Whether dealing with the day-to-day
operations of the district or mentoring a future radio operator, he
consistently demonstrates the epitome of "Integrity, Service and
Pride."
Over the course of his 18-year
career with the Illinois State Police, Forensic Scientist of the
Year Dr. Taylor Scott has been a valuable, dependable and dedicated
employee and is well-known in the forensic DNA community on a
national level. During 2004, he played a significant role in the
implementation of the Sample Tracking and Control System now
established at the DNA Indexing Laboratory and also wrote several
computerized programs to assist staff in their technical work. He
performed all of this project work with initiative, patience and
diligence, while maintaining his professional qualifications. His
accomplishments over the last year exemplify his dedication to the
Illinois State Police.
Awards presented to Illinois State
Police personnel during the recent ceremony include:
- Division of Administration Lt.
Col. Craig Allen was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for
his efforts at a fatal accident in Wyoming while on a family
vacation. Allen found the driver of a small motor home pinned
inside the vehicle, and the passenger, who had been killed, forced
under the dash. With the propane tank leaking and the gas tank
ruptured, Allen, with the assistance of passers-by, was able to
safely free the driver.
- District 6 Trooper Tracy L.
Atteberry was awarded the Lifesaving Medal for his heroic efforts
after responding to a three-vehicle crash. The driver of one of
the vehicles was severely injured and pinned in his car, which was
lodged beneath a pickup truck. After the truck caught fire,
Atteberry, with the assistance of passing motorists, was able to
remove the victim from his burning car.
- District 12 Troopers Ryan D.
Shoemaker and Cory A. Ristvedt were awarded the department's Medal
for Honor for their actions during a lengthy standoff with an
armed gunman at an automotive factory that was occupied by
approximately 400 employees. The man had wanted to speak to his
estranged wife, an employee at the factory. With the assistance of
local law enforcement, the subject was shot with a bean-bag
projectile. After being hit, the man pointed the barrel of the gun
at his face/head. He was then struck again with a bean bag, after
which officers advanced on the subject, forcing him to the ground
and recovering the weapon.
- District 15 Trooper Eric S. Caho
was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for an incident that
occurred on Dec. 29, 2003, while he was on patrol. After observing
a minivan stopped in traffic, he approached the vehicle and found
the driver unconscious. After calling for an ambulance, Caho began
performing CPR and administered a shock with an automated external
defibrillator. Due to Caho's quick actions, the driver began to
breathe on his own.
- District 15 Master Sgt. Paul M.
Carlos III was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for his
actions at an annual district banquet. During the meal, Carlos
observed a retired officer choking and not receiving any oxygen.
Carlos positioned himself behind the choking victim and delivered
three abdominal thrusts, with the third thrust dislodging a piece
of steak, enabling the retired officer to breathe.
- District 12 Trooper David W.
Finson was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for an
incident that occurred on Feb. 23, 2004. After being dispatched to
the scene of a personal injury accident, he found the passenger
with a heartbeat but not breathing. Finson began artificial
resuscitation until the victim was able to start breathing again.
Due to Finson's actions, the passenger survived.
- On Aug. 7, 2004, District 16
Trooper William A. Kearney was conducting a traffic stop when a
severe traffic crash occurred near his location. A motorcycle had
collided with a pickup truck pulling a horse trailer. After
calling for assistance and until EMTs arrived, Kearney began
providing medical assistance to the motorcyclist, whose leg was
partially severed and barely attached to his body. Kearney was
awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for his quick response,
which resulted in saving the life of the victim.
- District 22 Trooper Stephen
"Brian" Lawrence was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal for
responding to a single-vehicle crash on March 23, 2004. The
vehicle had overturned several times and slid down an embankment,
coming to rest on its side. During these events, the driver had
slipped out of his seat belt. He was lying face down in mud and
was completely unresponsive. Lawrence was able to crawl through
the back of the vehicle and re-establish the driver's airway. The
officer stayed with the unconscious driver for approximately an
hour to protect him from the extrication process and to continue
medical attention. The driver was expected to make a full recovery
from extensive fractures and head trauma injuries.
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- Greg Maus of the Information
Technology Command was awarded the department's Lifesaving Medal
for an incident that occurred on Oct. 22, 2003. While shopping at
a grocery store, Maus heard a loud noise and then observed an
elderly gentleman collapsed on the floor. After determining the
man was not breathing and did not have a pulse, he called 911 and
began performing CPR until the paramedics arrived. Due to Maus'
quick actions, the victim was revived.
- The Lifesaving Medal was awarded
to District 21 Trooper Walter R. Whitehill for his actions on Jan.
24, 2004. While off duty and having lunch at a local restaurant,
he observed a female patron begin choking. After identifying
himself as a police officer, he performed an abdominal thrust on
the victim, dislodging the obstruction.
- The Achievement Medal was awarded
to Robert Reneau of the Division of Forensic Services for a paper
recently published in the Journal of Forensic Identification. The
paper has changed the way latent prints are identified and how
latent print examiners will testify in court. Through his
publication, Reneau has generated positive, worldwide feedback in
the latent print community and for the Illinois State Police. Due
to his efforts, previously unidentifiable prints are now linked to
offenders, removing those individuals from our communities.
- The Medal for Valor and Purple
Heart Medal were awarded to District 21 Trooper Kurt C. Quick for
an incident that occurred on June 18, 2004. Unknown to Quick, he
had pulled over a stolen vehicle occupied by a mentally ill and
suicidal subject in possession of a .45-caliber handgun. As Quick
approached the vehicle, the driver shot at the officer, striking
him in his right hand. After retreating for cover, Quick was able
to return fire, using his service pistol with his left hand. As he
moved from his squad car to a nearby field, he observed the
subject at the rear of his vehicle with his pistol pointed in the
officer's direction. Quick again returned fire while running for
cover when he observed the driver still pointing the pistol at
him. Again, Quick fired at the driver, who returned to his vehicle
and drove away. The subject was later found dead from a
self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Other Officer of the Year nominees:
Division of Operations
- Sgt. John K. Clark; District 1
- Master Sgt. Joseph M. Perez;
District 2
- Trooper Jason C. Lococo; District
Chicago
- Trooper Jeanette K. Beck;
District 5
- Sgt. Jeff E. Gaither; District 6
- Trooper Jason E. Springer;
District 8
- Trooper Rickey A. Price; District
9
- Trooper Brian K. Ingram; District
10
- Trooper Kristopher M.
Gebke; District 11
- Sgt. Kelley B. Hulsey; District
12
- Trooper Paul W. Moak; District 13
- Trooper Jason W. Elswick;
District 14
- Trooper Matthew F. Hodgdon;
District 15
- Trooper Carl A. Heintz; District
16
- Sgt. Rolando A. Matos; District
17
- Trooper Jeremy Walk; District 18
- Trooper Michael D. Ahrens;
District 19
- Trooper Thomas P. Mavity;
District 20
- Trooper Timothy R. Davis;
District 21
- Trooper Aaron P. Hoffman;
District 22
- Special Agent Matthew J. Gainer;
Zone 1
- Sgt. Mark G. Fritz; Zone 2
- Special Agent Wilfredo Rivera;
Zone 3
- Special Agent Brian L. Gorsuch;
Zone 4
- Special Agent Vidal I. Panizo;
Zone 5
- Sgt. Donald E. Yann; Zone 6
- Trooper Richard D. White; Zone 7
- Special Agent Mario M. Mollo;
Operational Services Command
- Trooper Darrin E. Clark; Office
of the Director
- Sgt. Francisco Carrera; Division
of Forensic Services
- Special Agent Anthony L. McClure;
Division of Internal Investigation
Other Telecommunicator of the Year
nominees:
- Nikki E. Osborne; District 1
- Michele M. Roediger; District 2
- Robin S. Thorpe; District Chicago
- Mark W. Nealand; District 5
- Jennifer L. Dixon; District 7
- Pamela K. McGarr; District 8
- Betty G. Monk; Springfield
Communications Center
- Kenneth R. Williams; District 10
- Daniel W. Niemeyer; District 11
- Lisa A. Martz; District 12
- Tammy S. Hutchinson; District 13
- Denise L. Fryrear; District 14
- Mark Dorneden; District 15
- Dana M. Dillard; District 16
- Mark E. Morscheiser; District 17
- Cher N. Thomas; District 19
- Sarah J. Barker; District 20
- Patricia J. LaGesse; District 21
- Rhonda L. Baker; District 22
Other Forensic Scientist of the Year
nominees:
- Kimberly S. Bradley; Springfield
Forensic Science Laboratory
- Charles B. Holm; Morton Forensic
Science Laboratory
- Karen K. Kooi; Forensic Science
Center at Chicago
- Michael R. Norbut; Southern
Illinois Forensic Science Centre
- Donna R. Rees; Metro-East
Laboratory
- Francis P. Senese; Joliet
Forensic Science Laboratory
- Cynthia J. Torrisi; Rockford
Forensic Science Laboratory
[Illinois State Police
news release]
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