Round Lake Police Department names Officer of the Year

The Round Lake Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2024 is Erik Navarrete.

Officer Erik Navarrete has been with the Round Lake Police Department for five years and is currently assigned to patrol on Bravo Night Shift, where he acts as an Officer-In-Charge and Field Training Officer.

As OIC, Officer Navarrete assumes the role of shift supervisor when the sergeant is not working, which occurred several months this year due to training. He is also trusted with the responsibility of training and mentoring newly hired police officers during their field training.

Officer Navarrete has volunteered for and completed training as a Drug Recognition Expert. This highly specialized training makes him part of a very select group of officers throughout Lake County who are certified as a DRE. In addition to using his DRE skills to help keep the village of Round Lake Safe, he is a member of the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team as a DRE responding to the most serious vehicle crashes throughout the county.

Officer Navarrete is strongly committed to the mission of the Round Lake Police Department, as demonstrated by attitude, humility, and work ethic.