Published: May 16, 2008 04:03 pm            

Plainfield police honored

PLAINFIELD — Police officials here took time to honor their officers with an awards ceremony and gala Thursday evening at Duke Energy.

The awards ceremony is held each year in conjunction with National Police Week.

Plainfield Police Capt. Darel Krieger explained that in 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Police Officers Memorial Day.

“But I don’t want to call this a memorial, but rather a gala,” Police Chief Jeff Mitny said.

Hendricks Supreme Court IV Judge Mark Smith served as the guest speaker and started the program by thanking the officers for their hard work and commitment to serving the community of Plainfield.

“I have observed situations where you have been yelled at, or you’ve been bitten, or you’ve been stabbed, or you’ve been shoved, pushed, threatened, intimidated,” Smith said.

He said he watches as the officers take that in stride and attempt to resolve a situation.

Both Mitny and Krieger, along with Capt. Carrie Weber, presented officers with various awards.

Many of the officers received safe driver awards, while Chad Parks and Brad Elston received the Extra Mile Award, Betty Pound received the Unsung Hero Award, Elston and Doug Schnarr received their 10-Year Service Pin, and Mitny received his 20-Year Service Pin.

Additional awards presented included:

n Bronze Stars — Elston, Paul Williams, Jeremy Harris, Javier Casas, and Shawn Gruca.

n Letters of Commendation — Harris, John Endsley, Mike Mason, Scott Poston, Chris Duffer, Todd Knowles, Caleb Gibbons, Nathan Nolin, Gregg Bergesen, Jason Calloway, Alyson Ritter, Leon Champine, Kyle Prewitt, Casas, Brian Stewart, and Matt Murray.

n Impaired Driving Enforcement Award — Poston.

n Reserve Officer of the Year — Bruce Felix.

n Top Gun Award — Murray with first place, Chris Cutshaw with second, Gary Tanner with third, Gibbons with fourth, and Calloway with fifth.

The last award of the evening was the presentation of the Top Cop Award for 2007. Krieger said the recipient of that award is chosen by their peers.

“The administration, town council, police commissioners, judges, attorneys, and prosecutors have nothing do with this,” he added. “This is strictly a vote by your fellow peers.”

None of the officers knew who had been nominated or who had won the title. So it came as a big surprise to Officer Roman Holowka when his name was called as the Top Cop recipient.

Holowka, a four-year member of the department, said he was humbled and honored to be nominated by his fellow officers.

“It’s an honor to call myself a police officer with the Plainfield Police Department,” he added. “It means a lot to me. I’m very honored and humbled.”

Also honored during the event were civilian members in the department, members of the Danville and Plainfield fire departments, and citizens who assisted police in various cases.



amanda.roach@flyergroup.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.