NORTH AURORA – North Aurora Police Officers Randy Voss, Sean McCoy and Ryan Peat, and North Aurora Police Sgt. Mike Quinn, are this year's nominees for the 2014 North Aurora Police Officer of the Year award.
The award will be presented Tuesday at the North Aurora Lions Club's annual awards banquet at Fox Valley Country Club in North Aurora.
This award has been presented annually since 2005. Police supervisors provide the nominations, and the Lions Club will choose the winner.
Voss became the department’s first evidence technician in 2012. As a member of the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, Voss worked two homicide crime scenes in 2014, according to a news release from the North Aurora Police Department.
Voss has been a member of the police department for 23 years and is assigned to the day-shift patrol.
McCoy is a veteran officer often leading in self-initiated activities, according to the release.
Earlier in 2014, new owners took over a local hotel, and McCoy recognized that several known gang members, known to be associated with drug-related crimes, had taken up short-term residence at the hotel, the release stated.
Through his efforts and in cooperation with other officers, he was able to compile a list of gang members and associates staying at the hotel, which allowed officers to better monitor the situation and alert the new owners to the propensity for problems. McCoy has been a member of the department for nine years and is assigned to the evening-shift patrol.
Peat has been with the department for more than two years. He joined the North Aurora Police Honor Guard and quickly took an active role in community events, the release stated.
His role has evolved to include being an active member of the Kane County Honor Guard, which performs throughout the county.
Last year, he was selected for the position of traffic officer, which involves addressing traffic problems through the village by coming up with workable solutions, the release stated. In addition, he typically plans traffic control for special events, such as parades and North Aurora Days.
Quinn was promoted to sergeant in July 2014. While on patrol, he was the first to arrive at a gas station to find a man who was not conscious or breathing, the release stated.
Quinn noticed “track” marks on the man’s arms, which indicated that he might have just overdosed on heroin, the release stated. He administered a dose of Narcan, which negates the effects of heroin, and the man began to revive.
It was the opinion of those on the scene – officers and paramedics – that the man would have died if not for the lifesaving efforts of Quinn and the paramedics, according to the release.
Quinn has been a member of the department for eight years and is assigned to the evening-shift patrol.