ROCK ISLAND – Officers from the Coal Valley and Colona Police Departments received special recognition awards for heroic actions from the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council (FOP) during the organization's Annual Meeting on March 11 in Rock Island.
“These Coal Valley and Colona officers risked their own lives without hesitation to save people in their communities,” said FOP Executive Director David Wickster. “Officers Whitenack, Dusenberry and VanHollebeke exemplify what it means to put on the badge and protect and serve the public.”
The afternoon of August 21, 2015 Officer Paul Whitenack of the Coal Valley Police Department responded to a residence fire. When he arrived, Whitenack saw that part of the house was in flames and he heard there was a man still inside. Whitenack and a neighborhood resident jumped through an open window, fought through heavy smoke, and located the man. When the man did not want to leave the house in spite of the deadly situation, Whitenack forcibly removed him from the building and took him to a safe area nearby. The man and his dog sustained no injuries.
March 17, 2015 Colona Police Officers Eric Dusenberry and Sarah VanHollebeke were alerted of a house fire, and when arrived they found the rear of the residence engulfed in flames. When their knocks on the door went unanswered, neighbors told the officers that if there was a car in the garage, the residents should be home. The officers jumped a fence to look inside the garage and saw a car inside, then immediately kicked in the residence door, entered the house, and found both occupants sleeping inside. Officers Dusenberry and VanHollebeke evacuated the residents and waited for the fire department to arrive on scene. The Colona Fire Chief credited the officers' timely actions with saving the lives of the residents.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council is a law enforcement union representing more than 11,600 professionals in more than 514 bargaining units who work in the criminal justice system. The Labor Council negotiates and enforces contracts and improves salaries, working conditions, and benefits for law enforcement professionals throughout Illinois. Its members include police officers who work for municipalities, universities, and elected Constitutional officials; county sheriff’s deputies, correctional and court security officers; probation officers; 911 telecommunicators; law enforcement records personnel; and some related support staff.
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