Aurora police to honor Employees of the Year

Aurora's police department will honor its Employee of the Year Thursday from among 21 officers and one civilian who officials say went above and beyond the call of duty.

The ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. in the Copley Theater at North Island Center, 8 East Galena Blvd.

Those to be recognized for their actions during 2007 are:

• Dave Brian, community-oriented policing officer, whose quick work led to the capture of three men who allegedly robbed a beauty shop.

• Officer Chris Bekielewski, who was off-duty when he caught a man suspected in several burglaries.

• Bonnie Gutzwiler, an emergency operator, who helped save a baby's life by talking a woman through CPR over the telephone.

• Community policing officer Lorena Hernandez and Dave Brian for tracking down two men suspected in a gang-related shooting.

• Officer Donald Flowers, who chased down three purported gang members after they allegedly shot at a carload of people.

• Officers Glenda Van Horn and Joshua Sullivan, who saved a 14-year-old boy who was struggling to stay afloat in the Fox River.

• Officer Nick Gartner, who caught two men who were burglarizing a home.

• Sgt. Keefe Jackson, who spearheaded a response to a burglary in progress that led to the arrest of four people suspected in dozens of car and home burglaries.

• Doug Rashkow and Garrett Wrobel, both community-oriented policing officers, whose actions led to numerous charges against two men, one of whom was a street gang member, and the seizure of guns and other contraband.

• Officer Mike Townsend and Donald Flowers, who cultivated information that led to the identity of a suspect in a murder.

• Kenneth Thurman and Chris Weaver from the community policing unit and detectives Mike Auld and Kevin Jenkins, whose efforts led to a series of felony sexual abuse, battery and unlawful restraint charges against a 14-year-old boy.

• Community policing officers Matt Hix and George Lill, along with detectives Dustin Coppes, Todd Edwards, Bill Rowley and Andy Wolcott, whose work resulted in armed robbery and other charges against four gang members with extensive criminal histories.

The police department has a sworn staff of 301 officers and more than 100 civilian support employees.