Crime & Safety
Wilmette Detective Named 'Officer of the Year' for Third Time Since '08
Detective Landon Girard helped break up a bike theft ring and has won the award three times in the past four years.
Wilmette Police Department Detective Landon Girard was awarded the department’s 2011 ‘Police Officer of the Year Award’ Tuesday, marking the third time he has received the honor in a four-year span.
Girard was joined by his family as he accepted the award at Tuesday night’s Wilmette Village Board meeting.
“I think that you should all understand that this is a remarkable achievement,” said Wilmette Police Chief Brian King, who presented Girard the distinction on behalf of the department. “Detective Girard is the first officer to win the award back to back, and the first officer to win the award three times… The award you heard about tonight is something that his peers voted on. So, the other police officers thought that Detective Girard’s work was so exemplary that… he should win this award.”
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
King took the time to detail one of Girard’s laudable cases, when the detective used intuition and patient policing in June 2011 to nab two Chicago men responsible for a series of North Shore bicycle thefts, leading to the recovery of 24 high-end bikes.
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“That case typifies the exceptional work that we see out of [Detective Girard] day in and day out,” King said. “[He] continually acts as resource to other fellow officers. He willingly takes assignments without hesitation or complaint, no matter what those are. And he’s always willing to assist other coworkers.”
Girard spoke briefly, thanking the Village of Wilmette, his fellow officers and his family.
“I’d like to thank Chief King and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for continuing to hire quality officer to serve and protect Wilmette,” Girard said, “as well as the command staff for the continued support of myself and every officer on the department. And especially my family for those long nights and long hours of being home without a daddy because I’m at work. Thank you.”
Girard also received the award in 2010 and 2008.
Want to follow similar articles in Wilmette and Kenilworth? Sign up for Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch's newsletter.
