Glendale Heights police bodycam videos show rescue of three from icy pond

Bodycam footage released Wednesday by the Glendale Heights police department reveals the stressful moments surrounding the rescue of three people from a vehicle submerged in an icy pond on a dark Sunday morning.

Outside temperatures hovered around zero degrees when police were dispatched at approximately 1:35 a.m. to the area of Burdette and Roberta avenues after receiving a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a pond.

Arriving officers located three people in the water approximately 20-30 feet from the shoreline with the vehicle submerged in approximately 12 feet of water.

Officers Dennis Stachura and Marco Lomibao kept the victims afloat while navigating the water, ice and dangerous air temperatures.

Additional responding officers and the Glenside Fire Protection District continued to provide support and were able to pull the people to shore.

All three were treated for minor injuries, while none of the first responders were injured.

“Our officers are always ready and prepared for any situation,” Glendale Heights Police Chief George Pappas said. “What could have been a tragic accident turned into heroic actions by Officers Stachura and Lomibao and other responding officers on scene. I want to commend them for their selfless acts as they put their own lives at risk to rescue these three individuals. Our officers are dedicated to protecting and serving the residents of the Village of Glendale Heights every day.”

The driver of the vehicle, who was unnamed in the release, was charged with driving under the influence, police said.