Wheaton Recognizes Top Cops

The following is a news release from the City of Wheaton: 

Detective Patricia Potter, who has worked with the Wheaton Police Department since 2001, received the Wheaton Police Department Officer of the Year award at a ceremony July 12, 2013. This award recognized her investigative work on a variety of violent crimes, most notably the arrest and 120-year conviction of a man for the 2005 sexual assault of a resident and her infant child. 

Police Services Representative Doreen Farrell received the Civilian of the Year award. She was hired in 1995 and has served as both a Police Services Representative and Community Service Officer. The Wheaton Police Department presented the award to Farrell for her dedication and commitment both on-duty and off-duty, serving as an excellent representative of the City and the Wheaton Police Department. 

Police Chief Field presented the Wheaton Police Department Distinguished Service Award to: Lieutenant Robert Miller, Sergeant William Cooley, Sergeant William Murphy, Officer Dana Opalinski, Officer Jerry Zywczyk, Officer James Craig, Officer Van Dillenkoffer, Officer Thomas Sommerfield, Detective Steve Hamill, Lieutenant Thomas Heidank, Sergeant Princeton Youker, Sergeant Robert Lewis, Officer Angela Smith, Officer Jason Scott, Officer Timothy Kolzow and Officer Louis Prempas. The award recognized their combined efforts that led to the expeditious arrest of a man who shot a resident from outside the victim’s home on Jan. 22, 2013. 

Let Patch save you time. Get stories delivered to your inbox—sign up for our email newsletter. Fast signup here. You can also like us on Facebook.

The following Wheaton Police Department members received a Wheaton Police Department Unit Citation: Commander Reid Grossman (retired), Commander James Volpe, Sergeant William Cooley, Detective Stephen Hamill, Detective David Zdan, Detective Edward Fanning, Detective Patricia Potter, Detective Andrew Uhlir, Detective Brian Gabryel, Officer John Weibler, Officer Ryan Conway, Officer Adnan Hasan, Officer Karl Dillenkoffer, Officer James Craig, Officer Jason Scott, Auxiliary Officer K. Kiebles, Officer James Gruden (retired) and Investigative Sec. JoAnn Kujawinski. This award was presented for the collective efforts of all of those involved in responding to a stabbing that occurred June 19, 2009. The suspect was apprehended and convicted on Feb. 22, 2013 of first-degree murder. The award commended the unit for attention to duty, perseverance, professional expertise, tenacity and attention to detail resulting in the prosecution of the major crime. 

Officer Ryan Conway received a Lifesaving Award for the resuscitation of a man who was unconscious and not breathing on May 21, 2013. Officer Conway administered CPR and was able to restore breathing to the victim until the paramedics arrived. The award stated Officer Conway’s actions were directly responsible for the victim’s survival. 

Officer Clifford Dillon received a Lifesaving Award for administering CPR to a man who was struck by a car April 13, 2013. Due to the man’s injuries, he had no pulse and was not breathing. Officer Dillon administered CPR, which restored the man’s pulse and brought him to a semi-conscious state until paramedics arrived. Due to Officer Dillon’s actions, the victim survived and was later transported to a rehabilitation facility for his injuries. 

See also:

• Wheaton Woman Dies After Horse Riding Fall Near Oswego
• Bond Set at $3 Million for Addison Man Accused of Murdering Wife
• Wheaton Man Charged With Fleeing, Eluding Geneva Police
• Glen Ellyn-Area Scout Leader Charged with Sexually Assaulting Boy