Police Week: St. Charles Cops Honor Retirees

During a week in which the nation honors it peace officers and remembers those who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities, members of the St. Charles Police Department gathered on Tuesday to honor five retired officers.

The reception showcased a plaque commissioned to honor their prior service to the city and Police Department, with each retired officer getting a unique emblem on the plaque showing their star number and years of service. The department plans to hang the plaque in the department’s lobby.

To earn a badge on the plaque, the officers must be retired from the St. Charles Police Department after 20 years of credible service, retired due to a duty-related disability, died in the line of duty, or died while serving as an active-duty officer.

Those honored Tuesday were retired Capt. Charles Beckstrom, Cmdr. Daniel Klinkhamer, Deputy Chief David Jannusch, Sgt. Lynn Schroder and Cpl. James Kintz.

The day was a family reunion of sorts for two of the retirees — Jannusch and Kintz both have sons who are St. Charles police officers. David Kintz is one of the department’s deputy chiefs, and Officer Eric Jannusch is a recent recruit.

This week is National Police Week, which commemorates the many law enforcement officers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, and honors those officers who serve and protect our communities every day.

In addition to passing out blue ribbons at City Hall for those who would like to tie one on their car antennae in recognition and support of the week, the department has set up a law enforcement exhibit on display in the south window of the .

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