Thank You First Responders

Veterans bring a variety of qualifications to roles in law enforcement

Tim Isaac's indigestion had caused heartburn that wouldn’t go away. It was Valentine’s Day and he had stopped to eat in Rock Falls with his wife and sister-in-law on their way to Clinton, Iowa. Soon, he would be slumped over the wheel of the moving car he was driving.

Video: A recent ride along with DeKalb Police Sgt. Raynaldo Hernandez highlighted a dangerous stretch of North Annie Glidden Road where a February crash sent one man to the ICU.

Meet Wes, a Belgian Malinois and partner of Sycamore patrol officer Greyson Scott. Together they make up the department’s first K-9 unit.

From paramedic to medical school to the military, Dr. Gregory Conrad and clinical nurse Randa Melms, also a military veteran, use their field skills to help triage at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.

Mario Manfredini is the Berwyn Fire Department's fire inspector and a battalion chief. He also prepares his own Italian sauce, which is sold in local stores and farmers markets.

In addition to supporting co-workers, many other personality traits are needed for a career in EMS. Among them are problem solving, flexibility, adaptability, compassion, empathy and teamwork.

Nurses on Mercyhealth's REACT medical helicopter team share what it's like to provide care in the air.

Will County Sheriff's Police Deputies Victoria Sims Janovyak and Mike Janovyak have been working for seven years to increase fundraising and participation for Special Olympics in Will County through their department.

Algonquin orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Kogan was asked in 1995 to help with Jacobs football team on the sideline at games. He's been a part of the Golden Eagles' sports family ever since then.

The Daily Chronicle honors and salutes all DeKalb County First Responders.

Thank you La Salle County first responders.

My Suburban Life honors and salutes all First Responders.

The Kane County Chronicle honors and salutes all First Responders.

Kendall County Now honors and salutes all First Responders.

KeeLey Meyer is the first woman to be hired as a full-time firefighter in the history of Sycamore, and Carlos Aburto is the first Latino at the Sycamore Fire Department.

Gina Plastiak is a 911 operator in North Riverside at the West Central Consolidated Dispatch Center.

The Special Victims Team was created in 2023 to handle cases of child abuse, elderly abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, exploitation and juvenile problems in Kane County

You won't find many police officers still working at age 54, let alone still working midnights on patrol. But not many law enforcement officers love being a cop as much as Bill Sommer does.

When Bob Coleman started his firefighting career, Morris was a volunteer organization made up of 25 firefighters who all had day jobs. By the time he retired, it grew into a full time, fully-staffed fire department.

Kendall County Sheriff’s Sgt. Nancy Velez has been with the sheriff’s office since May 2009 and was recently honored as the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office Employee of the Year for 2023.

Capt. Matt Hornbuckle was honored by Joliet Cantigny Post 367 Veterans of Foreign Wars as Firefighter of the Year and received a Medal of Valor from the 100 Club of Illinois.

Head of NIU’s sports medicine department for almost three decades, Phil Voorhis was at Wal-Mart when someone by him had a cardiac episode. Voorhis sprung into action, but was surprised when he found out the chain did not have an automated external defibrillator.

As a bored 15-year-old, he was coaxed into joining the Utica Fire Department as a cadet. In just over a decade, Ben Brown had soared up the ranks and was fire chief by age 26.

Rettke: The sacrifice of being a first responder often trickles down to their families. So today, we say "Thank you" to first responders throughout our DeKalb County communities, and thank you also to the families for all the ways you put service before self.

Typing the phrase “first responder” into the General Assembly website (ilga.gov) returns dozens of bills introduced during the current session.

Dr. Sean Atchison treata patients in the Morris Hospital emergency department. He is also the medical director of Morris Hospital’s emergency medical services and said he provides continuing education with paramedics at various local agencies.

Leslie Livett, registered nurse and EMS coordinator for Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet, St. said Joe’s has three key ways it honors people beyond delivering health care.

The lines of the Morris Fire District weren't set until 1991, which meant the Morris Fire Department had a lot more ground to cover as a volunteer department in the time before it.

When Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus joined the cadet program at 16 years old he was deliberating his future career paths and was looking for a way to serve his community. Almost 40 years later, he remains as passionate and enthusiastic.

Sgt. Chris Hayes still has that same drive and passion as when he first started in law enforcement. Next year will mark 20 years of being in law enforcement.

A broken ankle at 15 led to Dr. Taylor Autry's career as an emergency room doctor.

If you've been to the emergency room at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva since 2018, depending on the shift, you might have received care from nurse Allie Spontak.

Sgt. Michael Imhof has done just about everything there is to do with the Coal City Police Department, and he's recently been promoted to be the department's only sergeant.

For Erie native Chad Miner, emergency medical services is a family business.

When treating injured athletes, Katie Dobersztyn said she works to help an athlete gain control of their pain.Every injury scenario is different. And Dobersztyn tries to get an understanding of the psychological component, not just the physical injury.

Taeopae Wetterman’s day as an athletic trainer at Yorkville High School starts well before the first ball is rolled out for games or practices. She likes it that way.

The Wilmington Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, or ESDA, has been around since the 1970s and is still to this day made up of volunteers lending a helping hand whenever first responder agencies need it.

Women firefighters in are not new in McHenry County, but make up just 9% of firefighters here and across the country. Women say they are part of the brotherhood and see themselves as firefighters first

McHenry County police social workers provide support to law enforcement and people in the community.

The service provides 24/7 paramedic and critical care services.

The police academy at Sauk Valley Community College is the eighth academy in Illinois and the first in northern Illinois. It opened its doors on Aug. 8, 2022. The first class, made up of 21 recruits, graduated in January 2023.

Morris Deputy Police Chief Chad Skelton is the longest tenured police officer with the Morris Police Department, and knew from a young age an officer is what he wanted to be.

Justin Martin is the School Resource Officer for Morris Grade School and coaches baseball at the school as well as basketball at Morris Community High School.

Det. Sgt. Rolando Padilla has served in many capacities during his 16 years with the Westmont Police Department

Sgt. Lee Zeitlin faces myriad challenges as head of the Brookfield Zoo Chicago's police force

McHenry dispatcher Tracy McNamara comes from a long line of first responders, including her father who was a volunteer firefighter. Dispatchers, she said, are often the first contact for people on what can be the worst days of their lives.

Columnist Tom Weitzel outlines the many ways residents can thank first responders

When heroes need help: How do first responders deal with on-the-job stress in DeKalb County? Here's a few resources:

When the sun sets and dusk rolls in, it’s those on the night shift at the DeKalb Police Department who answer the call of duty.