Several awards recognizing life saving efforts and support for law enforcement were presented Saturday, February 19 during a special meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Spoon River Valley Lodge # 427 in Canton.
“The City of Canton is blessed to have police officers who immediately step in to save lives when every second counts,” said FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “In addition, we are pleased to recognize two area businesses who demonstrate support for law enforcement by their generous actions.”
Life Saving Awards – Canton Police Officers Jarrod Smith and Nate Atkins
On October 22, 2020 Canton Police Officers Jarrod Smith and Nate Atkins responded to an address on N. Main in Canton for an accidental firearm discharge that left an occupant of the residence with a severe gunshot wound to his upper leg. Officers Smith and Atkins worked as a team to apply two tourniquets to the victim’s leg to control the severe bleeding prior to the arrival of rescue personnel. The victim was transported to an area hospital, had emergency surgery, and made a full recovery from his injury. The quick response by Officers Smith and Atkins using their first aid training is credited with saving the victim’s life.
Life Saving Awards – Canton Police Officers Cody Johnson and Jarrod Smith
On March 4, 2021 Canton Police Officers Cody Johnson and Jarrod Smith responded to an apartment where a 12-year-old juvenile had attempted suicide by hanging. Upon arrival, the officers found the child’s father attempting to perform CPR on the victim, but the victim was unresponsive. Officers Johnson and Smith opened the victim’s airway, took over CPR and continued life saving measures until emergency medical services personnel arrived on scene. The victim survived and has physically recovered from the incident. The quick response by Officers Johnson and Smith using their CPR training is credited with saving the juvenile’s life.
Blue and Gold Award – Star Metal Art, Farmington
Star Metal Art in Farmington, owned by George and Sue Starcevich, has manufactured 14 Memorial Badge Wall mounts for police departments across the state and one in Texas that have lost an officer in the line of duty over the past 12 months. The memorials have been made for the Chicago, Champaign and Bradley Police Departments, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and the Harris County, Texas Sheriff’s Office.
Blue and Gold Award – Steve Butler of Country Financial, Astoria
Steve Butler of Country Financial has been a long-time supporter of law enforcement in Fulton County. Among other things, Butler underwrites the cost of the Spoon River Valley FOP Lodge 427 Golf Outing that raises scholarship funds for the children of lodge members.
The Blue and Gold Award recognizes non-member organizations that have shown great generosity and support to the FOP.
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers – more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
***Report Courtesy of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police***
