Rolling Meadows officers honored for chasing down burglary suspect

Two Rolling Meadows police officers were honored on Tuesday night for their part in arresting an attempted bank robbery suspect who, authorities said, also had tried breaking into a home the same day.

Officers Kurt Herman and Jaime Rivera were given an Award for Exceptional Duty at Tuesday's city council meeting for their work to bring in Andrew Palacios on May 15.

Police said Palacios, 26, of Palatine Township, had attempted to break into an Arlington Heights home earlier that day and broke a window at Chase Bank, 826 W. Euclid Ave., to gain entrance there, authorities said.

When police got to the scene of the bank, Palacios, who was armed with a hammer, took off on foot, said Rolling Meadows Police Chief John Nowacki.

Herman and Rivera chased the man.

"They were able to catch him and arrest him without incident," Nowacki. "We're proud of them for their hard work, their diligence and their persistence."

Herman has been with the department for nine years, Rivera for 14, Nowacki said.

Palacios was charged with one count of burglary and one count possession of burglary tools, both felonies.