Yorkville Officers Recognized By Chief's of Police Association

YORKVILLE, IL — The Kendall County Chief's of Police Association recognized the following members of the Yorkville Police Department Friday. According to the police department, Officer Ryan Goldsmith was recognized as a nominee for Officer of the Year, and two others received awards through the association.

Officer J. Johnson was awarded a Lifesaving Award, and Detective M. Nelson was awarded Investigator of the Year, the police department said.

The police department congratulated Officer Goldsmith — the school resource officer (SRO) at Yorkville High School — for his nomination, and recognized his accomplishments on the police department Facebook page.

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According to the police department, Officer Goldsmith's assignment requires him to build relationships with students and faculty at the high school, and also with middle school and elementary school students. The police department added that during 2019, Officer Goldsmith "transformed the position of SRO from what could be perceived as exclusively a law enforcement position to a partnership between himself, the school administration, faculty and students," often requiring Officer Goldsmith to approach situations not just as a police officer, but also as a mentor, leader and role model.

The police department also recognized Officer Johnson and Detective Nelson.

On April 28, 2019, Lifesaving Award recipient Officer Johnson was dispatched to a business in the 2700 block of North Bridge Street for an unknown issue, where police said a person was moaning on the phone with dispatch and said they needed an ambulance. However, police said the person refused to share their location, however KenCom dispatch tracked the phone used to the above location. Officer Johnson got to the address, and noticed a car parked near the loading docks, police said. Officer Johnson then found a person sitting near the north side of the building with a self-inflicted wound across the front of their neck, and a butcher knife by their feet. Officer Johnson took the knife, remained calm, and helped the person with first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, police said, adding that due to his quick response and life-saving efforts, the person survived and got necessary medical care.

Police also provided highlights of the work performed in 2019 by Investigator of the Year Award recipient Detective Nelson .

Detective Nelson was assigned several criminal sexual abuse cases during December 2019. According to police, all of the cases contained different juvenile victims that had been sexually abused by the same person. Detective Nelson conducted or attended interviews with each victim and ensured that their experience was documented, police added.

Detective Nelson got a confession from the suspect, which resulted in a 35-count indictment against the suspect for charges including felony predatory criminal sexual abuse, police said.

Police said Detective Nelson displayed "the utmost compassion for the victims and their families" as they recounted events from years before, adding that this combination of sensitivity and professionalism enabled Detective Nelson to successfully investigate and charge this case.

From January to July of 2019, Detective Nelson investigated a residential burglary in which $30,000 cash and a pistol were stolen, police said. During his investigation, Detective Nelson learned that the suspect, who was from out of state, had been arrested by Colorado State Police and was found to have a stolen pistol and $18,000 of the stolen money. To confirm the suspects involvement in the burglary, Detective Nelson obtained cell phone records from the suspects cell phone carrier, police said. The data retrieved placed the suspect at the burglary, which resulted in charges of residential burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen firearm, according to police.

Then from February to July of 2019, Detective Nelson lead an internet-based child pornography investigation. With the Attorney General's Office, Detective Nelson oversaw the execution of a search warrant on the suspect's home where further evidence of child pornography was found on their computer and cell phone, police said. Detective Nelson got a confession from the suspect, leading to 21 felony charges for possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography against that person, according to police.