On Tuesday evening, November 15 Spoon River Valley Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 427 presented Sherrard Volunteer Fighter/EMR Donovan Swartz with the Illinois FOP Back the Blue Award.
Donovan was in his work truck on the morning of April 29, 2022 and observed Knox County Deputy Nick Weist get struck by a fleeing felon. Donovan immediately stopped his truck, ran to the scene and began emergency first aid to Deputy Weist and did so until additional police officers arrived. Donovan remained on scene instructing police officers on first aid protocol. Donovan did what every first responder does and allowed his training to take over. Donovan started his volunteer fire service with Sherrard Fire Department at the age of 14 in Sherrard’s Fire Cadet program.
PHOTO CAPTION LEFT TO RIGHT: Sherrard Fire Chief Dave Dobbeleare (Donovan’s Stepfather), Donovan Swartz, FOP Lodge 427 President Donald “Ike” Hackett
***Courtesy of Spoon River Valley Fraternal Order of Police***
