Lt. Joe Bratcher with the Monmouth Police Department recently received WQAD’s Beyond the Badge Award for 2024, reports Police Chief Joe Switzer:
“Lt. Bratcher received the Rick Ryckeghem Beyond the Badge Award from WQAD. He was nominated by someone in the community to receive that award. The award focuses on the offers that go beyond the normal duties; helping people in the community stay safe and Lt. Bratcher has definitely done that. He spends a lot of time in the schools doing our active training drills and he also spends a lot of time outside the police department at churches and various organizations, teaching them the same thing.”
Lt. Bratcher was presented the Beyond the Badge Award from WQAD while he was talking with a class at Central Intermediate School.
**story courtesy of WQAD
On October 10, 2024 Lt. Joe Bratcher received the WQAD Beyond the Badge Award for 2024.
Lt. Bratcher was nominated by an anonymous member of our community. The award focuses on how the officer is making a difference in the community through their position within the police department, how the officer is promoting the partnership between the police department and the community in preventing or solving crimes, how the officer is promoting trust and respect between themselves and the public and how the officer is making a difference in their community while off duty.
Lt. Bratcher is heavily involved in the training of staff and students in the Monmouth-Roseville School District on active threats and events within the schools, as well as giving safety talks to grade school aged children on Halloween safety and Stranger Danger. Lt. Bratcher also has trained churches and businesses within our community on active threats. Lt. Bratcher has been a police officer with the City of Monmouth for 26 years and is currently the Patrol Commander for the Department. Lt. Bratcher will be publicly recognized at the next City Council meeting.
WQAD will air the segment about Lt. Bratcher and the award later this month.
The honor is given by WQAD in memory of the late Detective Richard “Rick” Ryckeghem. Rick retired from the Moline Police Department and was the Quad Cities Crime Stoppers Coordinator. His focus throughout his career was to make a difference in the lives of people he encountered.
