Algonquin Police Sgt. Gets Officer Of The Year Award

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — An Algonquin Police Department has been selected as the McHenry County Chiefs of Police Association's 2020 Officer of the Year.

Algonquin Police Department Sgt. Robert Salazar was picked from seven nominees. The other nominees for the award include Cary Police Department Officer Joseph Fiore, McHenry County Sheriff's Office Lt. John Miller, McHenry County Sheriff's Office deputies Keith Sosnowski and Nick Clesceri, Lake in the Hills Police Department Officer Eric Lee and Woodstock Police Department Officer Charles Vorderer, according to a news release.

Salazar was recognized for his role during two separate incidents involving people threatening to kill themselves last year. During the first incident, a man was armed with a handgun and in his parked vehicle at a local park. The man was threatening to kill himself. During the second incident, a man was armed with a knife and inside a vehicle, also threatening to kill himself.

In both situations, Salazar was able to talk with the men and convince them not to take their own lives, according to the news release.

All officers nominated for the Officer of the Year award are recognized for their police actions in the past year.

"Their actions that led to their nominations were only a few of the highlighted acts that law enforcement professionals are willing and able to perform on a daily basis for the citizens of this county," according to the news release.