Arlington Heights police officer who trains future officers honored

Arlington Heights Police Officer Gary Kaminsky, who has been with the department for 27 years, was awarded the L.W. Calderwood Officer of the Year Award at the Arlington Heights Rotary luncheon Thursday.

Since joining the Arlington Heights Police Department in 1988, Kaminsky has served on the patrol division and worked as a juvenile investigator.

Kaminsky is also a field training officer for people working to become officers with the department.

"The duties include being a role model, communicating the expectations of training, teaching how to correctly apply concepts learned and evaluating trainees," Police Chief Gerald Mourning said.

Mourning says Kaminsky's training has helped the department build a phenomenal program.

"Sixty-six percent of all officers hired after 1993 were trained by Kaminsky," Mourning said. "Seventy-one percent of people who have received the Calderwood Award were trained by Kaminsky."

And half the officers Kaminsky trained have been promoted to sergeant or commander, Mourning added.

Kaminsky attributes his success as a training officer to the officers he has trained.

"It's on them, too," Kaminsky said. "Being involved with these good trainees, they almost make it hard to fail."

Kaminsky says it is refreshing to work with the trainees who are excited to join the village police department.

"I enjoy seeing them succeed," Kaminsky said.

Kaminsky says one of the most memorable moments in his career with Arlington Heights was "just getting sworn in on the first day."

In his time with the department, Kaminsky has received 18 complimentary letters and 13 distinguished performance letters for his involvement in a wide variety of incidents he has worked on with the department.

Kaminsky received a standing ovation from the crowd and was joined at the luncheon by his wife, sons, in-laws and friends.

The Arlington Heights Rotary Club honors a member of the police department who has made significant contributions to the community annually with the L.W. Calderwood Award. It is named for a former police chief whose family attended the luncheon.