Two Receive Top Honors

Chief Doug Larsson announced the nominations and recipients for the Wauconda Police Department's Officer of the Year and Civilian Employee of the Year awards. Nominations were taken from within the department and reviewed by a committee of two sergeants, one police officer and one non-sworn employee. The criteria for selection is based on demeanor, willingness to help others; work quality and quantity, deportment, decision making, policy compliance, and volunteerism.

There were four police officers nominated for Officer of the Year. The Nominees were Officers Kristan Kolar, Dave Musser, Sean Lewakowski and Pete Bognar. After review of the four nominees it was unanimously agreed upon Officer Peter Bognar be selected as Officer of the Year.

Officer Peter Bognar has routinely presented a professional demeanor, is willing to help others, works well with others, routinely completes assignments turns in quality work, has had no discipline problems and exhibits good decision making skills. In his work as an Investigator, Officer Bognar has been instrumental in the relocation of the evidence room and procuring the new bar-code evidence system. Officer Bognar also assists other agencies as often as needed and represents the Wauconda Police Department in a professional manor which brings credit to himself and this agency.

There were six civilians nominated for Civilian of the Year. The Nominees were Telecommunicators Dave Kibitlewski, Nick Weglarek, Patricia Holland, Joel Haerle, Community Service Officer Karl Gompertz and Administrative Assistant Deborah Gompertz. After review of the six nominees it was unanimously agreed upon Community Service Officer Karl Gompertz be selected as Civilian of the Year.

Community Service Officer Gompertz regularly goes beyond what is expected for his position. He presents a professional demeanor; he is willing to help others consistently, performs quality work, and has had no discipline problems. Community Service Officer Gompertz performs a myriad of tasks for both the Police Department and the Village, including work as the Community Service Officer, Marine Team Coordinator, vehicle maintenance, building maintenance and any other tasks that arise where his expertise is needed. Community Service Officer Gompertz has worked in the Police Department since 1999 and has shown devotion to the Police Department and the Village for the past 14 years.

The two were recognized by the Mayor on Tuesday, March 19 at the regular meeting of the Village Board.