2024 ISA AWARD FOR VALOR -Val-or – noun | Meaning: Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.On September 1, 2024, at approximately 7:30pm, dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call near Clifton, IL from a child that reported their stepdad was suicidal. Iroquois County Deputy Brock Myers was involved in the vehicle pursuit with this subject with mental health issues. It was believed at the time that he may have his wife at gunpoint in the vehicle with him.Deputy Brock Myers did not know it at the time, but he would end this evening in the face of danger… in a law-enforcement battle.Iroquois County Sheriff’s Deputy Brock Myers was honored with this ISA Valor Award for his courage and bravery. He showed extraordinary heroism at imminent risk of his own serious bodily injury, while demonstrating courage. Every day he shows up, a police officer who risks his life to protect citizens in his county. Watch the full video to hear the full heroic tale and why he was given the ISA Award for Valor!

2023 Kane County Correctional Officer of the YearLife Saving –In January of 2024 Officer Williams was supervising a housing unit in which he was alerted of a detainee causing concerns on the top tier. Officer Williams immediately noticed that the detainee appeared to have a bed sheet tied around his neck and was attempting to climb onto the railings of the top tier. Officer Williams called for assistance and began to respond to the incident. He approached the detainee from the bottom tier and moved a table under where the detainee was attempting to tie off the other end of the bed sheet to the railing. Officer Williams anticipated that if he were to jump over the railing, he would be able to support his body weight while standing on the table until responding Officers arrived. As he was positioning the table the detainee lunged over the railing with the bed sheet tied around his neck and top railing. Officer Williams quickly responded by attempting to support his fall to the ground as the bed sheet broke under his weight. Officer Williams reacted quickly in order to prevent any further harm the detainee was attempting to do to himself. In the end the detainee made a full recovery, and Officer Williams was awarded for his actions. Officer Williams proves time and again to show attention to detail, has the ability to think quick on his feet and these qualities are a reflection of his professionalism in the field of corrections.

2024 Kendall County Telecommunicator of the Year -Kendall County Jennifer Powell has been a dispatcher with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and KenCom since February of 2009, and in this time, she has regularly displayed her unfaltering commitment to the safety and well-being of Kendall County's first responders and the larger community as a whole. Jen consistently demonstrates inspiring thoroughness, steadfast dedication, and admirable leadership skills. She is hardworking, determined, and always willing to learn and expand her skill set. She is also happy to share her knowledge with those around her. Jen is as reliable a dispatcher as we have ever had the pleasure of working with and truly excels in the most stressful situations. She is so quick to help out her fellow co­workers, ensuring they have everything they could possibly need and that all their bases are covered; it is truly humbling to see her in action.We have seen Jen go above and beyond to help her co-workers more times than we can count. This is true when the room is tasked with complex structure fires, box alarms, or high­intensity situations such as home invasions and police pursuits. When we reflect on how Jen's heroism has directly impacted our community, we can't help but think about an incident in which Jen was dispatching police when one of our member agencies on the opposite police channel responded to a call for a burglary. The situation quickly evolved into a home invasion, prompting Jen to act quickly by alerting the responders on her channel. She kept her units informed as events unfolded, ultimately resulting in her them being involved in and taking the lead on a pursuit as the offender, presumed to be armed and dangerous, led police on a chase that spanned approximately 15 miles across Kendall County and into Aurora on a Friday evening during rush hour. Jen's quick thinking and clear communication were crucial in getting officers to the scene and keeping them updated. At the same time, the events unfolded and got them the assistance they needed when they needed it. This was an exemplary performance on Jen's behalf, and the captured radio traffic is fit for use as a training tool. Her resolve and commitment to public safety are commendable. Her clear and concise communication throughout this incident was valuable beyond measure to the responding officers and the larger community as a whole.