On March 1, 2011, Trooper First Class Joseph Romanchak and a cadet, responded to a disabled vehicle on I-70, but once they arrived, the vehicle was found to be engulfed in flames.  TFC Romanchak instinctively ran to the burning vehicle to find the driver still inside and extremely disoriented.  With the help of the cadet and an unknown citizen, TFC Romanchak pulled the disoriented victim from the burning vehicle, and transported him to safety.      

Worrying that others were also trapped in the fire, TFC Romanchak returned to the smoke-filled vehicle and broke a passenger window.  Fortunately, there were no other victims to be rescued.

  Trooper First Class Romanchak’s timely response to a disabled vehicle and immediate rescue actions prevented a tragic outcome. EMS personnel on the scene determined the driver’s altered mental status hindered his own ability to escape the deadly flames.  For his bravery in approaching a burning vehicle, not once, but twice, and without fire protection gear, Trooper First Class Joseph S. Romanchak receives the Governor’s Citation today, representing his willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. 

On the evening of April 5, 2009, Corporal James Pritts and Trooper First Class Steven Bennett were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash involving five young adults. Their vehicle had crashed into a murky pond and flipped upside down.  Prior to the arrival of the troopers, two of the occupants were able to escape the vehicle and call for help. 

Upon Corporal Pritts’ and TFC Bennett’s arrival, one of the female passengers was visible and appeared to be partially ejected from the vehicle.  The air was a bone chilling 35 degrees and water temperatures were near 40.  Regardless of having no cold water gear, and no emergency personnel at the scene to monitor their rescue attempts,  Corporal Pritts and TFC Bennett removed their duty belts and jumped into the pond to rescue the young girl and the remaining passengers. 

The young girl was successfully brought to the bank of the pond where a nurse bystander began emergency procedures.  The two troopers then returned to the chilly water to rescue the remaining two passengers.  Several attempts were made to break windows to gain access to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, but the resistant pressure of the water defeated their attempts.  Refusing to give up, Corporal Pritts and TFC Bennett returned to the open passenger front window to try and reach the victims.  Due to the dark of night and the lack of visibility in the murky pond water, Corporal Pritts and TFC Bennett were unable to find the victims.

If not for the courageous actions by Corporal Pritts and TFC Bennett venturing into extremely cold waters without cold water gear and without the ability to see through the murky pond,  the young lady would not have had a chance at surviving this crash.  She was given that chance by the self-less actions, by Corporal James R. Pritts and Trooper First Class Steven Bennett, who today receive Superintendent’s Citations for their courageous performance.

CORPORAL VINCENT W. UPOLE - SUPERINTENDENT’S SALUTE

TROOPER FIRST CLASS STEVEN M. LEMAY - SUPERINTENDENT’S

  SALUTE

TROOPER FIRST CLASS ANDREW T. FARRELL –

  SUPERINTENDENT’S SALUTE

TROOPER FIRST CLASS NORMAN D. ARNOLD - SUPERINTENDENT’S

  SALUTE

On June 4, 2011, troopers from the McHenry Barrack responded to a local rest area after a man called 9-1-1 crying he was going to kill himself in the woods. 

  Trooper First Class Steven Lemay arrived on the scene first and located the man’s vehicle and found a suicide note on the front seat.  Preserving the integrity of the suspect’s scent, Trooper First Class Norman Arnold and Trooper First Class Lemay secured the area and called for K-9 handler, Trooper First Class Andrew Farrell and his dog, Hailey. 

K9 Hailey immediately began tracking the suicidal suspect who troopers found standing on a milk crate with a noose around his neck.  Corporal Vincent Upole and TFC Arnold approached the suspect and through skilled communications, successfully convinced the suspect to take his head out of the noose and step down off of the crate.  The man was immediately handcuffed and escorted out of the woods. 

While at the patrol vehicles, Trooper First Class Lemay displayed empathy and compassion for the suspect, offered the suspect a bottle of tea and eventually learned the suspect had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and wanted to end his life to stop the pain of the disease. 

For their swift actions and expeditious efforts to initiate a K9 track which saved this man from killing himself, Superintendent’s Salutes are awarded to Corporal Vincent W. Uphole, Trooper First Class Steven M. Lemay, Trooper First Class Andrew T. Farrell, and Trooper First Class Norman D. Arnold.