Aurora Officers Named Co-Employees of the Year

Submitted by the Aurora Police Department:

Four Aurora Police officers have been chosen as Co-Employees of the Year at the Aurora Police Department for their response to a particularly brutal domestic violence incident last May.

When officers William Melendez and Christopher Grandchamp arrived on the scene of the call at a Near West side apartment complex, they heard yelling and screaming coming from inside one of the units. They immediately forced entrance into the locked apartment and saw a man standing over a woman who was suffering from injuries sustained in a vicious beating.

Upon seeing the officers, the man refused to follow their orders, police said, and ran into a nearby bedroom. Despite being ordered multiple times at gunpoint to exit the room, the offender refused to come out, police said.

When Melendez and Grandchamp radioed for assistance, Officer Peter Briddell, who was on his way to work to begin his shift, and Investigator Patrick Camardo, who was tending to evidence work at the police station, responded. The four were joined by North Aurora Officer John Kerlin.

When the five officers forced their way into the bedroom, the suspect fought, repeatedly attempted to goad the officers into shooting him, attempted to disarm one of the officers and violently resisted arrest, forcing the officers to deploy a Taser, police said.

By the time the offender was taken into custody, two of the officers suffered broken bones from the fight, according to police.

The victim told police that the man told her he was going to beat her into a coma. She was choked, suffered a broken nose, severe swelling of her face and hands, and received several stitches, police said. The man was charged with three felonies, including aggravated domestic battery, disarming a police officer,and resisting arrest.

The actions of these officers to force entry into a residence to stop an ongoing assault and the restraint showed in making an arrest even after they were injured themselves, demonstrates the professionalism of the individual officers and how well they represent the Aurora Police Department,” Chief Greg Thomas said.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Officer Grandchamp said, “The best part of it was how many police officers showed up (when we were calling for help). Within minutes the parking lot was filled with squad cars and that’s one of the things I love about Aurora. We have an incredible team here, an incredible camaraderie.”

Officer Melendez began his career with the Aurora Police in 2013; Officer Grandchamp in 2011; Officer Briddell in 2004; and Investigator Camardo in 2006.

The four were among 18 Aurora Police officers and five 911 operators who were all named Employees or Co-Employees of the Month in 2014 and were eligible for the annual “Employee of the Year” award.

All of the employees displayed specific acts that went “above and beyond the call of duty”.

Other officers recognized during a ceremony on Wednesday included:

• Officer Doug Rashkow, who brightened Christmas for the three children and the mother of a suspect he had arrested by purchasing Christmas gifts for the children with money out of his own pocket and securing a check for their care through a local veteran’s organization.
• Emergency 911 Operators Tracie Whalen, Tina Brian, Rosa Bocanegra and Craig Kowalski for their actions during the tragic incident on I-88 and Eola Road in which 39-year-old tollway worker Vincent Petrella was killed and Illinois State Police Trooper Douglas Balder was seriously injured when a semi-tractor trailer plowed into their vehicles while they were assisting the driver of a second semi that was disabled.
• Officer Sam Aguirre, for his heroic attempts to render aid to Mr. Petrella by climbing onto the hood of his burning truck despite the intense smoke and flames, removing the windshield with his bare hands, holding Mr. Petrella’s hands, encouraging him to hang on and assuring him that help was present.
• Officer David Bemer, for his actions that led to weapon and drug charges against four men he came across while on routine patrol in a known gang area.
• Officer Ted Grommes, for his actions involving the robbery of a 16-year-old boy by two other juveniles. In order to solve the case, Officer Grommes combed through an apartment building’s garbage dumpster, looking through every bag of foul-smelling trash for evidence.
• Officer Jim Brown, for his off-duty heroics that saved the lives of an elderly Wisconsin couple while he was camping with a friend in a remote wilderness area in Canada.
• Officers Greg Spayth, Brian Hester, Nikole Petersen, David Bemer and Chris Bosson, along with Investigator Angel Nieves, for their teamwork in a lengthy investigation that led to the solution of two taxicab robberies and a theft from a downtown motel by the same suspect.
• Officer Kyle Hoffman for his efforts during an early-morning traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle that led to charges against several gang members and associates along with the confiscation of a handgun.
• Patrol Officer Jason Sheldon and 911 Operator Melissa Johnson for their response to a call that saved the life of a 68-year-old woman who fell unconscious and stopped breathing.
• Officer Marco Gomez for his actions that led to the confiscation of a handgun and charges against the 14-year-old boy who possessed it.
• Officer Steve Lueders, who dealt with three juveniles who should have been in school and ended up solving several home burglaries committed by the trio.

“Every one of these incidents is a stellar observation of what police officers do day-in and day-out that so few of us ever hear about,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner. “Your professionalism and your dedication makes this department, as I have said many times before, not only second to none, but one of the finest police departments in the entire country”.

Aurora Police Commander Kristen Ziman said the actions of the officers honored exemplify the qualities found throughout the law enforcement profession.

“In the wake of recent national events, police officers have been painted with a broad brush of negativity,” she said. “Someone recently asked me why officers even bother to continue to do the good work they do given the negative perceptions that have unfairly been cast upon our noble profession. My answer: there is not one officer who won’t rise to action when it’s necessary.”