Downers Grove Police Sergeant Receives Law Enforcement Award

Sergeant Joel Marquez, of the Downers Grove Police Department, received a 2014 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) on Wednesday, June 18 at a ceremony at the DuPage County Administration Building Auditorium in Wheaton.

Sergeant Marquez was nominated by Robert J. Anderson, a circuit judge in the 18th Judicial Circuit Court located.

The ISBA's Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It is given to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement. In addition to Sergeant Marquez, four other law enforcement officers from judicial districts throughout Illinois are being honored.

Sergeant Marquez received the award for his exceptional work to educate his fellow law enforcement officers on the long-term impact that the crime of domestic violence has on families in DuPage County.

For the past five years, he has been an active member of the DuPage County Family Violence Coordinating Council, serving on its Court and Law Enforcement Committee. He has organized a number of trainings on domestic violence for county law enforcement officers where he strives to provide officers with the skills to properly investigate domestic cases, hold officers accountable and assist victims. It is an especially necessary skill in DuPage County, since officers respond to domestic calls more than any other type of call.

In his nomination, DuPage Circuit Judge Robert Anderson wrote that "historically, it has been easy for law enforcement to minimize the impact of this crime as a 'family matter.' " Sergeant Marquez, he continued, "has vigorously worked to educate his fellow law enforcement officers on the impact of this crime on the children and families in our county."

The 32,000-member Illinois State Bar Association (isba.org), with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to Illinois lawyers, and education and services to the public.