Civilian, Officer Of The Year Named At Plainfield Police Department

Press release from Plainfield Police Department:

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield Police Department is proud to announce the recipients of the Officer and Civilian of the Year Awards for 2022.

Officer of the Year 2022

Officer Cody Columbus is the recipient of the Plainfield Police Department’s 2022 Officer of the Year award. This award recognizes officers whose service to both the Department and the Village is exceptional. The men and women of the Police Department nominate officers they consider worthy of the highest degree of recognition.

Officer Columbus was hired as a Police Officer by the Village of Plainfield in December 2019 and has been assigned the patrol division. Officer Columbus has taken on numerous additional roles in an effort to further his career and help the Department, including becoming a Use of Force instructor, ILEAS Mobile Field Force team member, and Kendall County SRT member. With each auxiliary responsibility he embraces, Officer Columbus strives to make the police department a better place.

Community groups and individual community members have expressed gratitude for the compassion and kindness demonstrated by Officer Columbus. Officer Columbus routinely looks for ways to improve the lives of those around him.

Officer Columbus has established himself as an Officer who exemplifies the values of the Plainfield Police Department: Integrity, Accountability, Equality, Dedication, Respect, Professionalism, and Compassion.

Community members, Sworn Officers, and Civilian staff members all recognize the value Officer Columbus brings to the Plainfield Police Department. Officer Columbus, you are an asset to the Plainfield Police Department, and we are proud to call you the 2022 Plainfield Police Department Officer of the Year!

Civilian of the Year 2022

Records Technician Kellee Konieczny is the recipient of the Plainfield Police Department’s 2022 Civilian of the Year award. The men and women of the Plainfield Police Department nominate the civilian employees they consider worthy of this recognition. This award recognizes the civilian employee whose service to both the Village and the Police Department is exceptional.

Kellee began her service with the Village of Plainfield in 2017. As a Records Technician, Kellee is an essential part of the Records team that keeps the Police Department organized. Kellee is thorough in her task completion and has gone above and beyond to improve processes. Kellee represents the Village and the Police Department in a favorable light through her daily interactions with residents at the records window.

Job functions are essential, but do not tell the story of why Kellee is an essential member of the Police Department team. Always willing to help, listen, or lend a hand; Kellee is known throughout the department for her caring nature. Whether she is helping someone celebrate a special occasion or cooking meals for patrol shifts on a holiday, Kellee sets the bar for peer support.

Fortunately for the Village of Plainfield, Kellee’s giving heart is not bound by the walls of the Police Department. Kellee consistently volunteers her time, effort, and energy towards Special Olympics events in the community.

Kellee, sworn and civilian employees of the Police Department alike overwhelmingly agreed, you are an exemplary employee, coworker, and friend. We are proud to call you the 2022 Plainfield Police Department Civilian of the Year!

This press release was produced by the Plainfield Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.