Collinsville officers, telecommunicators receive SILEC/SIPCA awards
by Randy Pierce • Three officers and two telecommunicators with the Collinsville Police Department, along with two deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and one of its telecommunicators, are recipients of awards presented at the 33rd annual recognition event hosted jointly by the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (SILEC) and the Southern Illinois Police Chiefs Association (SPICA) on Jan. 22, at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon.
The stated purpose of the awards program is to provide recognition of men and women who work in law enforcement for their significant contributions to the enhancement and mission of their profession.
Additionally recognized were individual citizens whose actions and dedication have provided assistance to law enforcement agencies in the SILEC region which covers the counties of St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, Bond, Clinton and Washington.
Presented with “medal of valor” awards were Officers Ben Koertge, Jacob Besserman and Billy Tracy from the Collinsville PD along with Deputies Joshua Bogle and Zachary Sellers from the sheriff’s department. Special telecommunicator awards went to Miranda Williams and Nathaniel Simon from the Collinsville PD and Kaitlyn Ferguson from the sheriff’s department.
Nominated by Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor and Collinsville Chief of Police Brett Boerm, these individuals were all involved in an incident that occurred in December 2024 when a residential burglary escalated into an armed encounter with a suspect who had fled on foot with a weapon and threatened self-harm.
The three officers and two deputies worked together in a coordinated, multi-agency effort to locate and contain the suspect, according to the nomination information, who, after a vehicle pursuit and extended search on foot, was discovered hiding in a wooded area.
After more than 20 minutes had expired, the officers, using communication, de-escalation tactics and non-lethal options as they had learned about through training, were able to resolve the situation peacefully, taking the suspect into custody.
“When the suspect took actions that placed officers and nearby citizens in immediate danger,” the nomination stated, “they were forced to act to stop the threat. Their professionalism, restraint and bravery under extreme pressure saved lives and exemplified the highest standards of law enforcement service.”
All of that would not have been possible without the guidance received by the officers from the telecommunicators who were honored. Ferguson, from her post with the sheriff’s department, “took command of radio traffic, tracking officer locations and relaying critical information with calm precision” while Wiliams and Simon were able to manage the rapidly changing circumstances, coordinating with multiple other dispatch centers, ensuring that the officers on the scene had the support they needed as the situation intensified.
The telecommunicators, according to the nomination information, “despite the stress and danger unfolding in real time,” all remained composed, focused and professional, their teamwork playing a vital role in safely managing the incident and contributing to the safety of the officers and public.
