Proud Sister!

This is an article that was run in the Evanston Paper. To say that I am proud of my brother is an understatement!

Evanston's finest hailed for exceeding call of duty
April 17, 2008
By BOB SEIDENBERG bseidenberg@pioneerlocal.com

Evanston police officers received honors Monday for their many services, from the rescue of a missing autistic child to the breakup of a crack cocaine operation run by a new faction of the Black P Stones street gang.
Mayor Lorraine H. Morton, accompanied by Police Chief Richard Eddington, served as master of ceremonies. Morton handed out commendations, honorable mentions and unit citations to officers at the annual ceremony honoring officers "for going above and beyond the call of duty," she said.
One of those honored at the Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., was Officer Fernando Gomez. On March 22 of last year, he was among the officers who fanned out along the lakefront in response to a report of a missing autistic child.
"Several other police units responded and searched the immediate beach and lakefront area," the officer's commendation read. "You and your partner took the initiative and began searching a nearby private drive. You located the child and rescued him from the water."

Unit citation
Members of the Evanston Police Department's Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Chicago Police Department's narcotics and gang investigations sections received a unit citation.
On March 1, 2007, the two combined forces to carry out what was dubbed Operation Triple Threat, to "combat an open-air drug market that was operating on the Chicago-Evanston border," said Deputy Chief Demitrous Cook.
"A new faction of the Black P Stones street gang, known as the Insane Black Mafia, were responsible for selling crack cocaine in the targeted area of this operation," Cook said.
"During this operation, a total of 23 successful undercover buys were made and 22 narcotics dealers and suppliers were identified," he said. "Nineteen arrest warrants were issued for persons identified in the delivery of narcotics to the undercover officers. Seizure warrants for four vehicles were also issued."

Drive-by shooting
Detective Timothy VanDyk and Officer Daniel Kooi were cited for efforts in connection with a drive-by shooting Feb. 3, 2007, when two victims were shot in the rear of the 2000 block of Darrow Avenue, including a former Evanston Township High School student who died later.
"A description of the suspect and vehicle were immediately broadcast," Cook said. VanDyk was off duty at the time and riding in his personal vehicle when Kooi passed him in a patrol car and provided a description of the suspects.
"Officer Kooi attempted to curb the vehicle of the offenders, and Detective VanDyk observed property being tossed from the suspect vehicle," Cook said.
Once Kooi was able to stop the vehicle, VanDyk was able to help in the arrest, he said.
Other officers also received awards for their efforts at the ceremony, as family and friends looked on.
"They really do an awesome job," said Evanston City Manager Julia A. Carroll, taking in the ceremony.
Officers often don't receive notice for the underlooked good things that they do, she said.
Eddington said the program highlighted the "wide series of services" police perform for the community that often fall below the radar.
To see the look on a parent's face when reunited with a child, "the relief, it's phenomenal," he said.