McHenry County honors heroes of Holiday Hills shootout
It was a day of firsts for the McHenry County sheriff's department: First purple heart. First award of valor. Unit citations for the entire detective and patrol divisions that worked the case.
"We have so much to be thankful for this season," Sheriff Keith Nygren said Tuesday, visibly beaming at the first responders and supporting officers who saved the day Oct. 16 when a gunman in Holiday Hills opened fire, wounding two deputies.
The injured deputies, Dwight Maness, 46, and Khalia Satkiewicz, 39, teared up as they received their purple heart medals to standing ovations from the sea of blue in the audience.
"I cannot recall that this award has ever been bestowed on anyone prior to today," Nygren said, adding that he hoped he would never again have to give out such an award.
"Roger that," responded Maness, who was wheeled into the McHenry County Government Center conference room on a gurney for the awards ceremony.
Maness, a seven-year veteran, was shot in the abdomen and left leg by a .223-caliber AR15 rifle. He underwent multiple surgeries at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Maness and Satkiewicz were responding to a domestic disturbance call at the home of Scott B. Peters, who is accused of firing through his front door at the officers. He fled during the commotion but was captured after a 16-hour manhunt.
Maness' wife, Sue, was grateful to be able to celebrate her birthday recently with her husband - even if it was in the intensive care unit.
"I just have a lot of people to thank for him still being here," she said, holding back tears.
Satkiewicz, a 12-year veteran of the force, was shot in the right leg. She underwent surgery at Centegra Hospital-McHenry and is now recovering at home.
Her husband, Robert Satkiewicz, a sergeant with Illinois State Police, said it took a while for it to sink in when he and their two children, Sierra and Nicholas, first learned Khalia had been shot.
The kids took it well, all things considered.
"They are resilient kids. They know she is a hero," he said. "They understand the dangers that mom and dad go through. Everybody did an outstanding job. The character, skills, professionalism ... everybody there knew what they were doing."
Eric Luna, the third deputy on the scene and an ex-Marine, received an award of valor for providing cover fire and keeping the shooter at bay while other officers pulled Satkiewicz and Maness from the line of fire.
Had Luna not been there, the shooter would no doubt have killed the two deputies.
"You saved two lives," Nygren told Luna. "You may have saved countless lives in the neighborhood."
Luna and two Island Lake police officers, Gilbert Hueramo and Victoria Gwizdak, each received the life saving award.
Hueramo, a 20-year law enforcement veteran with tactical training, and Gwizdak, a patrol officer with five years on the force, dragged the wounded deputies to safety and provided medical help.
"Were it not for you ... these deputies may very well have succumbed to their injuries," Nygren said, adding, "There will always be a special bond between the Island Lake Police department and the sheriff's department."
Nygren said he was amazed at the collective response of area law enforcement agencies - more than 250 police officers were deployed, and the sheriff's office actually had to turn some officers away.
Nygren also recognized two radio dispatchers for keeping their cool in a crisis and other support personnel who worked behind the scenes.
"We learned that in 9/11, without effective communications, things don't very often go the way they should," Nygren said.
McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill said the county owes "a debt of gratitude to all the departments and officers involved."
"I can't tell you how much I respect and admire each and every one of you," she said.
The best part, Nygren added, is "these deputies will be able to spend the holidays with their families."