O’Fallon Telecommunicators and O’Fallon Resident Presented with Commendations
O’Fallon, Illinois – Mayor Gary L. Graham and the O’Fallon Department of Public Safety are pleased to announce that O’Fallon Telecommunicators Michelle Foster, Ebony Clemons and Melanie Kenyon were presented with Chief’s Commendations, and O’Fallon resident Jennifer Wolf was presented with a Civilian Commendation during the City Council Meeting on March 7, 2016. The commendations were presented to the recipients for their outstanding conduct and unselfish actions that led to the recovery of two stolen vehicles and the arrest of six potentially violent offenders.
“I am proud of these individuals for their bravery, quick thinking, and their dedication to keeping O’Fallon and the region safe,” stated Mayor Graham.
On Thursday, January 28, 2016, Telecommunicators Michelle Foster, Ebony Clemons, and Melanie Kenyon were on duty in the O’Fallon Communications Center when the Police Department received a phone call from a citizen reporting a truck pulling a trailer which had exited the parking lot of Schnuck’s and was spilling some of the trailer contents onto the roadway.
Moments later, as O’Fallon officers were responding to the original call, O’Fallon dispatch received a call from a subject who stated that their Cadillac Escalade and attached box trailer had been stolen.
Dispatch then received a phone call from O’Fallon resident Jennifer Wolf who had witnessed the vehicle being stolen. Ms. Wolf took the initiative to follow the stolen vehicle and provide updates of its location until O’Fallon Officers could get into position to stop the Cadillac.
Ms. Wolf additionally provided information about a silver colored Audi passenger car, which the suspects had exited from prior to stealing the Cadillac. The O’Fallon Telecommunicators recognized the Audi from prior radio traffic as one that had been taken in an armed vehicular hijacking just hours earlier in St. Louis. Using that information, they were able to make a region wide broadcast which later resulted in the capture of four additional suspects and the recovery of the stolen Audi by the East St. Louis Police Department.
“The professionalism of the O’Fallon Telecommunicators and their ability to stay calm and cool under pressure made it possible for the officers on the street to successfully bring this incident to a safe conclusion,” said O’Fallon Director of Public Safety, Eric Van Hook. “In addition, Ms. Wolf’s quick actions make her very deserving of public recognition and a civilian commendation.”
For more information, please contact the O’Fallon Department of Public Safety at 618.624.4545.
Pictured: (left to right) Lt. Rob Schmidtke, Daryl Ostendorf, Ebony Clemons, Captain Jim Cavins, Michelle Foster, Chief Eric Van Hook, Melanie Kenyon, Jennifer Wolf, and Captain Mark Berry