Buffalo Grove officers honored for years of service

After 35 years in his old career, Bob Sizer decided his new path should be as a police officer.

At 54, Sizer joined the Buffalo Grove police department in 1997 as a patrol officer.

"I always love the spontaneity of working on the street," he said.

This week, the department honored Sizer as the officer of the year, an award given out in conjunction with AMVETS Post 255.

Officer Frank Horbus, who joined the department in 1999, was also given the special commendation award for 2007.

Sizer, who lives in Arlington Heights, worked for more than three decades as a theft investigator. Later this year, when he turns 65, he will retire from the police force.

"His service to the community is remarkable," Police Chief Steve Balinski said at a village board meeting Monday, when the awards were presented.

Sizer is certified to deploy beanbag impact munitions, intended to temporarily incapacitate a dangerous individual with less risk of injury or death than with firearms.

Sizer is also part of the department's crisis-hostage negotiation team.

"If I have a strong suit, it's being able to put myself into something spontaneous," he said. "That seemed to be right up my alley."

Although he's dealt with a few crisis-hostage situations, Sizer said none of them have had an unfavorable outcome.

The one he remembers most is when the police were called to the scene of a man who had threatened his mother; officers soon discovered the man was wielding a machete.

Both Sizer and Horbus said they were attracted to the Buffalo Grove department because of its reputation.

"I always liked the way the department ran," Sizer said. "They were quite visible on the street."

Horbus was recognized for the consistent work he's done for the department, including being a firearms and defensive tactics instructor, a school safety resource officer, a rapid deployment instructor and a police motorcycle officer.

Horbus met his wife, who is a community service officer, through the department.

Currently, he works in the traffic unit of the department, known for its innovative ways of apprehending offenders and emphasizing safety.

"Traffic was always something I thought was interesting," he said. "It's a high-profile position within the department, and Buffalo Grove is notorious for its unit."

He said the unit strives to lower crime by having a large presence on the streets.

"It's always been our goal here to make the town safer," he said.

Horbus said the award is a special one because it's a nomination through his peers. Sizer echoed that sentiment.

"What I've learned and what I've come to know over the last 11 years is there are one fine … lot of people who do this job," Sizer said. "I don't think there's a better bunch of people that I've ever known in my lifetime."