Gurnee praises 8 police officers

Gurnee’s finest received honors Monday evening for their work on the traffic beat, including an officer who’s hit the 1,000 mark for speeding tickets issued to drivers over his career.

Eight of the Gurnee police officers were recognized for the stellar work. About 100 spectators attended the village board session, which included police department employees and families and friends of those honored.

Mayor Kristina Kovarik, who called it one of her favorite nights of the year, was joined by Police Chief Kevin Woodside in front of the village board dais for the ceremony.

Officer Phil Mazur received the Illinois Department of Transportation 1,000 Speeding Award. It’s a career achievement honor for the corresponding number of speeding citations written since 2001.

Woodside praised Mazur’s work on the street, which includes serving as Gurnee’s canine officer.

“He has an awful lot of responsibility,” Woodside said.

Officers J.R. Nauseda, Dana Dingman and Jason Kalinowski were given the 2011 Gurnee Police Department DUI Enforcement Award. Nauseda made 27 arrests last year, followed by Dingman with 25 and Kalinowski with 21.

IDOT awards for career DUI enforcement since 2011 went to officers James Caldwell III, Kirk Helgesen and Carol McClanathan. Each cop received IDOT’s 50 DUI pin.

Dingman, McClanathan, Nauseda and officers Dion Snyder and Tom Woodruff received the Traffic Enforcement Award. It’s issued to officers who demonstrate a dedication to traffic safety in speed and occupant restraint enforcement.

“I’m always in awe of what you guys do every day, and you truly are keeping us safe,” Kovarik told the officers.

Separately, firefighter-paramedic James Gramer received a promotion to lieutenant. He began his career as a paid-on-call Gurnee firefighter in 1993.

Kovarik, accompanied by Fire Chief Fred Friedl, administered the oath of office to Gramer.