It was our 48th Annual Law Officer of the Year Award Luncheon at Stoney Creek Inn. Exchangite and Adams County Sheriff Brent Fischer, along with Quincy Deputy Police Chief Curt Kelty, handled the master of ceremonies duties. The meeting began with the presentation of the colors by the Quincy Police Department's Color Guard. They needed assistance since they were a small police department. ILEAS supplemented their force with additional officers and equipment from other departments around the state and at no cost. ILEAS is funded by the Illinois Emergency Action Agency and also by federal grants. A very interesting topic and thanks to Jim Page for being our speaker.

Sheriff Fischer then named the past recipients of the Citizens of the Year Award and turned it over to Mayor Kyle Moore who announced that this year's recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award was Pam Shaffer the Executive Director of the Adams County Red Cross. Pam's last day at the Red Cross was actually that day after serving the organization for some 34 years.

 Pam oversaw the operations during the 1993 floods, the 1996 plane crash at Baldwin Field, and the tornadoes in the Lima/Ursa area as well as countless other events. She is a past winner of the YWCA's Women of Achievement Award (2009).

Pam thanked the over 400 volunteers at the Red Cross for her award and accepted the award on their behalf. Good luck Pam with your retirement.

Sheriff Fischer then called out the names of the past recipients of the Law Officer of the Year Award, many of whom were in attendance. He then turned to Deputy Chief Kelty who announced this year's winner of the Law officer of the Year Award as Illinois State Police District 20 Trooper Brad Williams.

Trooper Williams, back on April 24th, was involved in a manhunt for the killer of 5 people and the wounding of one other in Manchester, Illinois. On his State Police motorcycle, Trooper Williams spotted the suspect and began a chase that took him into Winchester, Illinois where he received assistance from two other officers from the Winchester Police Department.

They managed to stop the vehicle but the suspect pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at the Winchester Police Chief. Trooper Williams, armed only with a service pistol, drew his weapon and fired at the suspect fatally wounding him. His actions saved at least one officer and possible three had he not perform his duties that day. For his efforts the Quincy Exchange Club proudly presented the award to Trooper Brad Williams.

Our feature speaker, Jim Page, the Executive Director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) then addressed the large gathering. Mr. Page is a 29 year veteran of law enforcement and retired as Assistant Police Chief at Urbana, Illinois. He also graduated from the FBI's National Academy.

Mr. Page mentioned that ILEAS is a public agency involving some 900 police departments in the State of Illinois, all of which have signed the same mutual aid agreement in the event they need assistance. For instance, ILEAS was contacted by the Harrisburg, Illinois Police Department after they were devastated by a strong tornado that ripped through their community.