By Paula Scott 

On Monday, January 9, 2023, the Ada Police Department presented awards to officers for accomplishments from 2022. The awards recognized exceptional service including life-saving actions and risking threat to their own lives, as well as community and administrative activities.

Retiring police chief Michael Harnishfeger told the Icon that police work "can at times be mundane, they patrol the streets and may have some time on their hands. But on occasion they are out saving lives. This past Sunday, we were involved in that fire (on Christopher Circle). Folks don't know, but one of our officers went all the way into the attic of a burning home to get one of the occupants out of that house as she was trying to find her animals. He didn't hesitate to coax her down while the house was on fire and filling up with smoke." That event will surely be an award for 2023.

In 2022, an Ada Police Officer discovered a trailer fire before the occupant was aware of it: "He said, 'My house isn't on fire!' but it would be a total loss.... Thanks to the officer he was able to get out with some important things and his pets."

Harnishfeger noted, "I'm just so very proud of what our officers do in keeping our village a safer community."

AWARDS:

Certificates of Appreciation
Sgt. Iten and Sgt. Crawford each received Certificates of Appreciations for their excellent administrative work in assisting the Chief of Police over the past year.

Medical Emergency Response Awards
Sgt. Crawford for his actions in assisting a male who was overdosing from illegal drugs and administering Narcan.

Ptl. Bollinger for his actions in assisting a female who was choking, delivering the Heimlich Maneuver and assisting her in clearing the obstruction.

Ptl. Bollinger, Ptl. Peterman and Ptl. Fowler for their actions in performing CPR and utilizing the departmental AED in an attempt to save an elderly female who later succumbed to her illness.

Ptl. Fowler for her actions in performing CPR and utilizing the departmental AED in an attempt to save a male victim who later succumbed to his illness.

Ptl. Sturgill for her actions in assisting a female who was overdosing from illegal drugs and administering Narcan.

Meritorious Award
Sgt. Iten for his actions in discovering a house trailer fire and notifying the occupant. Sgt. Iten assisted the male victim in removing his pets from the trailer and other personal belongings.  The trailer was a total loss.

Chief’s Award
Ptl. Keller-Clark for her 33 years of dedicated service to the Village of Ada and her work as our Community Relations Officer for the past 5 years.

Employee of the Year
Ptl. Andrew Peterman for his dedication to the Ada Police Department and his work overseeing department property and evidence.