Buffalo Grove honors several police officers for outstanding work

The Buffalo Grove Rotary Club has presented its 2015 Police Officer of the Year Award to Officers Anthony Turano and Ross Valstyn. The officers were unable to appear at Monday's village board meeting because they were on special assignment.

Buffalo Grove police Chief Steven Casstevens said that Turano and Valstyn belong to the two-man Directed Patrol Unit. During the past six months, he said, they have made it a priority to monitor schools, public buildings and parking lots for criminal activity, with the main focus on criminal damage, burglary and drugs.

"Through their intelligence gathering and narcotic-related investigative efforts, the DPU team has targeted individuals known to manufacture and deliver illegal narcotics," he said. "They have conducted undercover operations geared toward the purchase of narcotics and obtained several search warrants for locations in Buffalo Grove."

Their efforts have yielded several arrests for narcotic-related offenses, and large amounts of controlled substances and cannabis have been removed from the village's streets, he said. In addition, police have seized approximately $14,000 and three vehicles, and recovered a computer and printer used in creating false state identification cards and driver's licenses.

Casstevens said the officers participated in traffic enforcement efforts that have led to the interception of narcotics being delivered to Buffalo Grove residents, resulting in more than 90 arrests for DUI, driver's license infractions, ordinance violations and related misdemeanor and felony violations.

Turano has been with the department about 10 years and Valstyn about four years. Each received a $500 charitable contribution, half of which goes to a charity of choice, while the other half goes to the Rotary foundation.

Also honored was a member of the investigations unit, Officer Brian Hansen, a 16-year veteran of the force who received a special commendation sponsored by AMVETS.

Casstevens cited "his personal motivation, excellent teamwork, and professionalism."

Hansen investigated a series of residential burglaries, identifying several suspects. "After several weeks of surveillance, he observed a vehicle occupied by five suspects. … The suspects were apprehended while committing a residential burglary in another community," he said.

Burglary tools and proceeds were recovered and all suspects were charged, he said. Another case that he worked for five months led to two individuals being charged with burglary and theft, Casstevens added.