Financial investigator named Mount Prospect's officer of the year

An expert in unearthing financial crimes was honored Tuesday as Mount Prospect's Officer of the Year for 2015.

Investigator Alison Teevan, who received similar recognition for her work in 2013, was commended for her efforts on difficult and prolonged investigations, including a case involving Link Card fraud at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club that had a financial impact of more than $900,000.

As a result of Teevan's work, $30,000 in cash and four vehicles were recovered and several criminal charges, including money laundering and wire fraud, were brought against the accused ringleader, officials said.

Teevan also played a role in a Palatine police operation that focused on a store owner accused of purchasing stolen high-priced liquor and reselling it.

"She has an experience and a reputation that carries her through the Northwest suburbs," Police Chief Tim Janowick said. "When the defense attorneys see Alison's work and they say this as good as (federal investigators'), that tells you the quality of the work."

Runners-up honors went to Investigator Michael Landeweer, Officer Nicholas Mavraganis and Investigator William Ryan.

Landeweer, Janowick said, specializes in delicate cases, including child abuse offenses.

"Mike, our children and our community and the victims, they are very lucky to have a guardian such as you to go out and pursue justice on their behalf," Janowick told him.

Janowick said Mavraganis was responsible for 20 percent of moving violation citations on the midnight shift, as well as 13 percent of the parking citations. He also was credited 55 percent of the department's DUI arrests.

Janowick praised Ryan's investigative expertise, saying he provided valuable undercover assistance in an operation targeting a doctor suspected of providing prescriptions without examinations or diagnoses. As a result, the doctor was charged with forgery and unlawful dispensing of controlled substances and had his medical license revoked, officials said.

Ryan also was instrumental in bringing to justice an offender suspected of several bank robberies, Janowick said.