print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published February 08, 2013, 05:00 PM

Multiple jurisdictions recognized for work that solved crime in Superior

Officers from several law enforcement agencies were honored by the Superior Police Department for their crime-fighting efforts.

  • Medal of Valor
    • image
    Superior Police Chief Charles LaGesse shakes hands with Investigator Jeff Harriman after presenting the him a Medal of Valor. Harriman was off duty and driving home when he discovered last February 2012 that he was driving parallel to a pursuit of a car-jacking suspect. Instead of driving home, Harriman joined the pursuit, risking his life in a foot chase with the suspect involved in an officer-involved shooting; he just had a small, off-duty revolver and no bullet proof vest at the time, said Deputy Chief Nick Alexander. Harriman, Sgt. William Lear and Officer Todd Carlson were all honored with the department's second highest honor.
  • Image

Medal of Valor

Three officers received the Medal of Valor award, the Superior Police Department’s second highest honor, for involvement in the officer-involved shooting in February 2012. Their actions displayed exceptional bravery in excess of the normal demands of their jobs. They are:

  • Sgt. William Lear

  • Officer Todd Carlson

  • Investigator Jeffrey Harriman

    Distinguished Service Ribbon

    Three officers receive the Distinguished Service Ribbon. Their actions contributed to the safety and well-being of the citizens affected by fires. They include Officer Lori Dalbec and Sgt. John Nowicki for their actions at the Hughitt Avenue fire, and Officer Marc Letendre for his actions at a fire on Michigan Drive.

    Meritorious Conduct Certificate & Ribbon

  • Investigators Timothy Monte and Paul Winterscheidt received the honor for contributions throughout the year to various narcotics investigations. The volume and complexity of the cases worked has resulted in significant interruptions to the narcotics trafficking in our region.

  • Superior Police Detective Christopher Moe, Minneapolis Police Detective Kerry Mraz, Centennial Lakes Police Detective Kris Carlson and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Detective Tom Sonenstahl received the award for their involvement in solving a high value burglary in the East End of Superior and other investigative efforts, before and after the arrest, which made this investigation successful.

  • Officers Corey Hanson, Kirk Babic, Dalbec, Jeffrey Felton, Adam Johnson, George Gothner, Greg Swanson, Brad Esler and Jeff Darst, Investigator James Olson and Sgt. Christopher Kirchoff received a group certificate and ribbon for their involvement in the pursuit of an armed suspect and subsequent officer-involved shooting in February 2012. All were actively involved in this incident from the initial call for service through the conclusion of the incident. They exhibited great professionalism and dedication throughout a very dynamic and complex situation.

    Letter of Commendation

  • Senior Records Clerk Cynthia Berthiuame received a letter recognizing her hard work and leadership in records, especially during a time of transition from one computer-assisted dispatch system to a new one.

  • Detective Sgt. Derrick Hughes received a letter for his involvement in detecting arson to a car. Besides locating the fire, you also identified a suspect vehicle, took chase and eventually arrested two suspects.

  • Officers Christopher Woolery, Nicholas Eastman and Todd Maas received a letter for the successful resolution of a father/son domestic earlier in the year. One of the involved parties had armed themselves with a knife and barricaded himself inside a home. The officers were able to gain the freedom of an individual detained against his will by the suspect, and safely apprehend the suspect.

  • Detective Michael Jaszczak received a letter for the hard work and dedication displayed during the Superior Shooter’s Supply burglary investigation. This was a complicated investigation that involved travel, search warrants, interviews, and other investigative techniques to come to a successful conclusion in the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of many of the stolen guns.

  • Officers Michael Bach, Brian Davis and Patrick Carey received a letter for the self-initiated and proactive foot patrols they participated in as the result of a rash of vehicle break-ins last summer. During the foot patrols, the three officers identified suspicious persons and activity that ultimately resulted in a narcotics arrest.

  • Superior Police Officers Carey, Michael Kendall, Eastman, Jennifer Orn, Woolery, Superior Police Sgt. John Kiel; Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies Jacob Engleman and Jim Madden; and Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigations special agents Jay Smith and Michelle Smith received a letter for their involvement in the follow-up investigation that took place immediately after an officer-involved shooting in February 2012.

  • Carey, Bach, Gothner, Esler, Darst, Kiel, Harriman, Detective Kirk Hill and Deputy Chief Nicholas Alexander received a letter for their involvement in the shots fired incident this past fall on the 2300 block of John Avenue. This was a rapidly occurring event where they responded to a report of shots fired in a residence. They apprehended a male who claimed to have just killed multiple persons. Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had fired a shotgun into the walls and ceiling of an apartment while under the influence of controlled substances.

  • Johnson and Orn, and Sgt. Adam Poskozim received letters for their involvement in the shots fired call on the 4th of July that led to the arrest of a convicted felon who had fired a handgun off the back porch of a residence. A protective sweep of the residence revealed a large indoor marijuana grow, which was documented and dismantled after a search warrant was gained.

  • Detectives Jack Curphy and Moe, Officer Erick Flood and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden John Krull received letters for their efforts in addressing Wisconsin Point vehicle breaks-ins last summer. Their efforts led to the identification and arrest of multiple suspects as well as the return of a large volume of stolen property to the rightful owners.

  • Woolery and Kendall received letter for their efforts in a pro-active investigation of a suspicious vehicle in a high crime area at North 12th Street and Hughitt Avenue. Their actions and observations resulted in a warrant arrest.

  • Superior Police Detectives Jack Curphy, Joseph Krieg, Jaszczak, Harriman, Winterscheidt, Lear, Alexander, Sgt. Thomas Champaigne and Douglas County Sheriff’s Department investigators Dan Howe and Madden received letters for their involvement in the investigation and stake out in a significant burglary in the East End. The detail they participated in required long hours and teamwork, and contributed to the eventual arrest of multiple suspects.

    Fitness Award

    Carlson, Davis, Kirchoff and Chief Charles LaGesse received the department’s Fitness Award in recognition of achieving established standards in the department’s fitness testing.

    Tags: , , , , , , 

    More from around the web