Trooper wins Barth award

As a young state trooper starting his law enforcement career, Jim Kintz wasn't familiar with domestic violence crimes and rarely had to deal with them.

“But there was a domestic violence incident in Hanover Park, and I was called over there to assist, and the victim was already in the hospital,” Kintz recalled. “But the man was still in the house with a gun, and we surrounded the house and got him to come out.

“The victim requested that he come to the hospital, and once he got there, she was hugging him and telling him she forgave him, and he said he was sorry,” Kintz said. “And I'm thinking to myself, is that it? Is that what this is all about?”

Kintz went on to 42 years of law enforcement service before retiring, with 22 of them at the St. Charles Police Department and he learned much more about domestic violence incidents along the way.

So much so, that he has made public awareness of the crime and help for victims his life's work.

It's been a passionate journey that was recognized Thursday night when Tri- City Family Services honored Kintz with its prestigious 2010 William D. Barth Award for volunteer work and human services.

Kintz said he “really got his education” about domestic violence during his last three years of work as a private investigator in the Kane County state's attorney's domestic violence unit.

“That's where I found that I could do something about this,” Kintz said, which led him to volunteer involvement in the 16th Judicial Family Violence Coordinating Council and onto spearheading domestic violence ministries and workshops for area churches.

“I really feel that God wanted me to do this,” Kintz said. “I can see how things dovetailed in my career to keep me close to this issue, and that's where I am at now.”

Darlene Marcusson, executive director of the St. Charles Lazarus House homeless shelter, nominated Kintz for the award and introduced him to TriCity Family Services supporters at the ceremony at Riverside Banquets in Geneva.

“Some 40 years ago now, I was involved in helping Vietnamese refugees in the area get settled, and we had a family in St. Charles that had its apartment vandalized,” Marcusson said. “We called the police and God sent us his best that day when Jim Kintz arrived and made these people feel welcome and comfortable in the community.”

Just prior to accepting the award, Kintz was surprised by a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog a character and costume that Kintz portrayed for years at St. Charles police events.

“I've read in the newspapers about past Barth Award winners and thought about how much they deserved it,” an emotional Kintz said. “I am just overwhelmed and very proud that you think enough of me and these accomplishments, that I didn't do alone, to be honored in this way.”

Kintz, who first joined the St. Charles Police Department in 1968, said he is proud of the work that has helped get the problem of domestic violence in the public eye, but it continues to be a growing problem.

He looked at TriCity Family Services leaders and said, “Please be there for me, I will need you in helping these people.”

In addition to serving as a corporal on the St. Charles force, Kintz was the chief of police at Waubonsee Community College and Oakton Community College. He founded the ministry for domestic violence victims at St. John Neumann Church, which led to programs at many other churches and a day-long workshop each fall.

He also began the Court Watch Program in Kane County, which provides trained volunteers to sit in domestic violence court to help ensure rights are being respected.

Kintz is a past president of the Illinois Crime Prevention Officers Association.