Gurnee police honor their own

Two Gurnee Police Department employees were honored Monday night for their work in the past year.

Jason Kalinowski received the 2010 Police Officer of the Year award, while crime prevention technician Tom Agos was named 2010 Civilian Employee of the Year. Both men received plaques and congratulations from Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones and Mayor Kristina Kovarik during the village board meeting.

Kalinowski, who came to Gurnee from the Kenilworth Police Department in 2008, was credited by Jones for his willingness to take initiative on the job. Kalinowski is known for his prowess in night-shift traffic enforcement as well as handling a range of duties from juvenile to gang officer.

“He is a credit to the department,” Jones said of Kalinowski. “He is a credit to the entire community.”

On a lighter side, it was noted at the meeting Kalinowski used his computer skills last year in a case involving a pilfered 4-foot-tall plastic Simon the Chipmunk statue from Marcus Gurnee Cinema.

Another chipmunk, Theodore, could have met the same fate, but police used a social networking site to foil a plot by the same three teenagers charged in the Simon theft. Jones joked that Kalinowski can take the title of “pet detective” from colleague Jim Caldwell, who probed the theft of Six Flags Great America’s inflatable spider Tiny several years ago.

Agos joined Gurnee police as an officer in 1987 and, due to injury, became the crime prevention technician in 2006. He’s handled myriad tasks, including being Gurnee’s point man for the red-light camera program that started in 2009.

Before Gurnee’s photo enforcement went live, Agos led three public information forums that were meant to show how the gizmos can improve intersection safety. Gurnee at the time was one of the few towns to hold such forums.

In 2006, Agos and a police investigator made an inaugural presentation to teachers and administrators at two elementary districts serving Gurnee on what to do if a lockdown becomes necessary.

Jones credited Agos for his ambition. “He’s an outstanding employee and we’re lucky to have him,” the chief said.

Kovarik was touched after the brief police awards ceremony ended.

“My heart just swells up with pride,” she said.