Geneva Police Chief Eric Passarelli presented Life Saving Medals to eight officers at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting.

Sgt. Brad Jerdee and Officer Bob Pech were honored for helping locate and save a suicidal woman in a Geneva park on Sept. 15, 2021. Officer Pech received information from a family member and conducted research to develop possible locations to search. He forwarded the information to Sgt. Jerdee, who later discovered the woman unconscious in a locked vehicle. Sgt. Jerdee gained access to the vehicle and provided emergency lifesaving care until paramedics arrived.

Officer Erica Bolger and Officer Hunter Winterstein were recognized for helping a choking victim to dislodge a piece of food on Jan. 15, 2022 at a Geneva residence. The officers' quick actions resulted in saving the man’s life.

Sgt. George Carbray, Officer Quantrell Priest, Officer Megan Solner, Officer Matt Adam, and Officer Winterstein were awarded for saving a man who was contemplating suicide on the Union Pacific West railway overpass spanning the Fox River on May 4, 2022. The man threatened to jump at times and was armed with two knives. The officers' deescalation efforts, which lasted more than an hour, helped bring a successful, non-confrontational resolution to the situation. The man ultimately complied with verbal directions to come off the train trestle to receive care by paramedics.

According to Geneva Police Department’s internal policy, the Life Saving Medal is awarded for an act performed in the line of duty, which through disregard of personal safety or prompt and alert reaction, results in the saving of a person’s life.

At the meeting, Chief Passarelli praised the officers for their bravery and skills in providing professional care to each victim. There is no doubt these three individuals are all still alive due to the diligent efforts of the officers involved, Chief Passarelli added.