Two Antioch police officers were recognized by their department recently for their decisive actions in separate incidents.
Officers Matthew Hart and Patrick Conrad were given lifesaving awards at a recent Village Board meeting.
Hart responded to a March 27 call for service and arrived to find a woman yelling for help. Hart grabbed his medical kit. He found a man in full cardiac arrest and began CPR until paramedics arrived to bring the man to a hospital.
The man’s heartbeat was re-established before transport, and the man was treated and released.
Conrad was on duty on April 2 when he received a call for medical aid. At the scene, he found a man who was unresponsive, purple and in respiratory arrest. Conrad began immediate CPR and administered Narcan until paramedics took over. The man was brought to a hospital and he recovered.
“These are the moments that remind us that what our officers do each day is not just important — it is sometimes quite literally the difference between life and death,” Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said. “Officer Hart and Officer Conrad accepted the weight of that responsibility and stepped forward when lives literally hung in the balance.
“The officers’ actions in those moments represent the very best of our profession; their swift, lifesaving actions reflect the highest standards of service,” he said.
Citizen of the Year
Continuing on the awards beat, the Gurnee Police Department recognized Allan Kalinowski with its Citizen of the Year award.
Kalinowski is the GPD community service officer, pitching in with the department on things like parking assistance and animal control.
“Since joining the department in 2023, Allan has become a dependable resource for both the community and our officers,” GPD said. “Whether assisting patrol when needed, volunteering during community events like Shop with a Cop, or serving as a Child Safety Seat Technician helping families keep their children safe, Allan consistently demonstrates professionalism, compassion, and a willingness to serve others.”
Mental health speakers
The Gun Violence Prevention Initiative will host an evening of talks focused on mental health on May 28.
The GVPI, an anti-violence organization operated through the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, will host the event from 6-8 p.m. at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
The event, held as part of May Mental Health Month, will feature Lake County speakers giving 5- to 10-minute, TED-talk-style presentations about their experiences and professional insights regarding mental health.
There will also be a community resource fair featuring partner organizations. The event includes a dinner. Register at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/N64Up6JbAm
Child porn arrest
A Waukegan man is facing numerous felony counts for disseminating child pornography, according to Lake County authorities.
Michael A. Bray, 39, of the 2600 block of West Cornelia Avenue, was taken into custody following a search of his residence on Wednesday. Police said they recovered numerous examples of child pornography from electronic devices after serving a search warrant.
Electronics-detection dogs from the Lake County Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney’s Office assisted, police said.
Bray has been charged with 10 counts of disseminating child sexual assault material, police said.
“Every image and video in cases like this represents the victimization and exploitation of a child,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly to identify those responsible, rescue victims, and ensure predators are held fully accountable for their actions.”
