Reports didn't cover everything in policeman's death

It was inevitable that news reports concerning the death of Vernon Hills police officer Jesse Goldsmith would have a major focus on his arrest of Circuit Judge David Hall for DUI.

But it is also important to point out that a valuable public servant was lost to the community in Goldsmith's passing.

For 17 years, Goldsmith was one of an amazing group of men and women who put themselves in between the worst that life has to offer and the rest of us.

One of his colleagues, Sgt. Kevin Grampo, recalled this week that Goldsmith was a multitalented individual who was universally respected in the department.

Grampo said Goldsmith, who was single, was the night shift officer in charge for the department, a unique position for a patrolman to hold.

"In cases when a supervisor is not available, our people contact the officer in charge for advice when they need it," Goldsmith said. "Jesse was that guy on the night shift because of his knowledge, his experience and his levelheadedness."

In terms of experience, Grampo said Goldsmith had done it all.

He had worked in the traffic division, was a detective, a firearms instructor, a member of the tactical team and a member of the Northern Illinois Police Emergency Alarm System response team.

One of the most difficult things reporters have to do is to call the family of a recently deceased person for information and intrude on their grief.

It is no different when a police department is called about a fallen member - the grief was palatable in the Vernon Hills Police Department on Tuesday.

In our quest to cover the news, we may have placed too much emphasis on the case and not enough on the man.

If so, that was a mistake, and not one you should make.

Radios on the way: The Lake County sheriff's office has landed a whopping $1 million grant to upgrade its portable radio system.

Director of Homeland Security Wayne Hunter said the money, which will be matched by an additional $200,000 of local funds, is coming from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The new radios will be interoperable, which Hunter said means that deputies will be able to communicate with other police, firefighters and public works employees.

Interoperable radios because a priority for emergency service workers in the wake of the World Trade Center disaster on Sept. 11, when police officers and firefighters died because they could not talk to each other.

Hunter said the grant will be paid out between this year and 2010, and that the radios will cost between $4,200 and $5,800 each.

Heard in the hallway: Congratulations to Liz Pavelic, the executive legal assistant in the civil division of the Lake County state's attorney's office, who is retiring today after 29 years. Enjoy your new life in Florida, Liz.