Round Lake Beach Police Department employees honored
By Frank Abderholden fabderholden@stmedianetwork.com February 16, 2012 6:30PM
Ken Lupi is recognized as Officer of the Year during a recognition ceremony in Round Lake Beach on Monday. | Special to the News-Sun
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Updated: April 17, 2012 1:45AM
The Round Lake Beach Police Department has honored three people for more than 20 years of service, along with naming the Civilian and Police Officer of the Year
Police Chief Gary Bitler said the honors were held “so the community realizes what a good job that people serving them do.”
Officer of the Year is Police Officer Ken Lupi, who was honored once before with a Life Saving Award after he gave CPR to a woman, saving her life last March. Lupi has been instrumental in assisting other communities to help solve kidnapping cases and burglary rings. He also works as an evidence technician and warrant services team.
He did not call in sick during the year and was cited for his positive mental attitude by his supervisors and consistent efforts to assist other officers. He also coaches youth hockey clinics.
The Civilian of the Year is Community Service Officer Tammy Dreyer who has volunteered for expositions and community open houses to promote the police department while also handling an increase in her duties. She was cited for her work ethic by her supervisors and her efficiency in her work. She also crochets, and she made more than 30 winter hats for needy children that were distributed during the department’s Shop with a Cop last Christmas season,
The three employees with over 20 years on the job are Kathy Foley, David Hare and Brian Peters.
Foley has worked in the department as a records clerk and used to have to deal with reporters. She was the Civilian of the Year in 2003 and 2006. She has been the liaison to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and village prosecutor’s office. She has served as an administrative assistant to the police chief and was the notary public for the department.
She has also volunteered for a number of department events like Shop with a Cop and Take a Kid Fishing.
Hare is now a lieutenant in the department who has worked every shift and then as he moved up through the ranks he served as first line supervisor, supervisor of investigations, support services, the patrol division, and served as the department’s union and pension fund president.
He has completed the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command course, FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., obtained a master of public administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and served as an adjunct professor for Northwestern University Center for Public Safety. He established a countywide sex assault protocol and was a liaison for the village’s teen court.
Peters has served as a field training officer, firearms instructor, bicycle patrol officer, a member of the Honor Guard, the department armorer, a member of the Special Operations Unit and Warrant Service Team, a patrol shift supervisor, the department representative for the NIPAS Mobile Field Force and Emergency Services Team (SWAT), Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (undercover drug operations), the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and the Lake County Gang Task Force.
He has been an instructor for the Illinois State Police Academy and the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions from the department, including the Perfect Attendance Award (three times), Special Operations Bar, Warrant Service Bar, Honor Guard Service Bar, Field Training Service Bar, Bike Patrol Service Bar, Good Conduct Award, and the Recognition/ Commendation Bar, and the 2001 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from Waukegan Elks Lodge 702.
Peters has served as the sergeant-at-arms and president of FOP Lodge 97 and has been active in Shop with a Cop Program, and is a member of the Coast Guard Reserve.
All the honorees were given proclamations read at the Monday, Feb. 13, Village Board meeting and signed by Mayor Richard Hill.
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