NPD officers receive Meritorious Service Award

Posted on February 29, 2016

Officers Robert Droege and Ryan Thomas stopped a man from rolling off an overpass in early January. (Photo courtesy Normal Police Department)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – Two Normal Police Department officers have been recognized with Meritorious Service awards by the department.

Chief Rick Bleichner said Officers Robert Droege and Ryan Thomas were called to the overpass at Interstate 55 and Veterans Parkway on Jan. 6, where they were able to pull a suicidal male to safety.

“When the officers responded there, they were able to locate and individual,” said Bleichner. “He had been walking in traffic, almost got struck by a semi, and then he laid down on the overpass.”

The officers were recognized during a special roll call ceremony at the department this week.

“Recognizing the situation, realizing that this individual is in distress, formulating a plan to take him into protective custody to get him the care that they needed, again, speaks, I think, volumes about their commitment to public service,” Bleichner said.

Bleichner added the actions of the officers exemplify the core values of the department.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…