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.

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.

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

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.

A dog and its alert homeowner started the lifesaving events in this small town where the scenic Rock River and its low head dam draws thousands of visitors, but also requires constant training for first responders when accidents happen.

As the assistant chief of training and safety for the Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District, Ryan Cihak is prepared for the unexpected.

Firefighter/EMT Cael Davis said if there was one saying he heard from a coach that rings out most today is “always give a 100 percent.”

Two of Silver Cross' champions are emergency medicine doctors with EM Strategies, who treat patients in the emergency department of the New Lenox hospital.

On March 28, DeKalb County Sheriff's Deputy Christina Musil was doing what she often did at night: working. Take a look back in photos on the days since, as community members grieved together for the fallen officer and mother of three.

Fire Dept. links up with other agencies to help people deal with simmering problems at home.

K-9 unit trained for crime-fighting and public relations.

The Rock Falls Police Department is working to educate area residents on the realities of policing through its Citizen Police Academy and Law Enforcement Explorer Post No. 626.

Many volunteers with the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency have given hundreds of hours of their time helping out in times of need.

DuPage County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Jeremy Rimmer heads the department's Post Crisis Response Team

Adrain Banat, a son of Polish immigrants, found a new home with the Ottawa Fire Department.

More than 200 people packed into Sew’d Hop’d Brewing in Huntley on a recent Sunday to find out which fire or police department had the best chili recipe.

Kendall County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Briars got into law enforcement to help make a difference in a person’s life.

Bayles and Mendez joined the Joliet Police Departent in 2018, named Officers of the Year in March.

Not every kid takes the fire science and criminal justice classes at the Grundy Area Vocational Center knowing that they'll become a firefighter or police officer, but both programs have churned out new recruits at a high rate.

After coming home from serving in the military, St. Bede graduate Bryant Eustice was looking for a new direction. He found it in law enforcement. Eustice is not a La Salle County deputy/K-9 handler while continuing to coach football and baseball at his alma mater.

Lockport Township High School District 205's two school resource officers Kevin Brauch and Cameron Kamarauskas are more than just school employees, they're district alumni, and an integral part of the school community.

A May 15 program at the the Whiteside County Senior Center will go over safety tips for seniors.

Will County forensic interviewers work on the front lines with police and prosecutors with fighting crimes against children. The interviewers allow child victims to "finally have a voice" and share their story.

Plainfield Police Sgt. Luke Ostreko said a career in law enforcement can "offer so much if you’re willing to be invested in it and take the time to make it what you want it to be."

Eli the German shepherd works and trains hard for the McHenry Police Department. In his downtime, he's a family pet for handler Josh Conway.

Alexis Echebarria loves her work, doesn’t seek recognition for her job as the first point of contact during an emergency.

Jim Holden is a first responder who is often heard but rarely seen. He has been the voice on the other end of thousands of Kane County 911 calls.

Officer Sarah Markusic hasn't been with the Morris Police Department all that long, but she's made a big impact in her time there.