Fulton County Officer Named Illinois Sheriffs’ Association 2020 ‘Deputy of the Year’On February 11th, 2021, the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association recognized Fulton County Officer Ryan Maricle as their “Deputy of the Year” award winner at its Virtual Winter Conference.Fulton County Sheriff Jeff Standard nominated Deputy Maricle for this award as a result of an incident that occurred on July 22, 2020. On the evening of July 22, 2020, Deputy Maricle was off duty when he learned that a female had rolled over a lawn mower and was trapped underneath. As Deputy Maricle lives in the vicinity of the accident, he arrived on scene to find the female pinned under the lawn mower with her head being the only thing above water.Deputy Maricle observed the female’s husband holding her head and jumped in to assist the husband in keeping her head above water. Upon arrival of additional First Responders, they were able to help roll the mower off of the female.Deputy Maricle was off duty and had no obligation to help with the accident. He responded out of his personal sense of duty and desire to protect and serve his community. Deputy Maricle demonstrated tremendous heroism that is always present either on or off duty.Thank you and congratulations on a job well done.

Lake County Corrections Officer Named Illinois Sheriff’s Association ‘Correctional Officer of the Year’The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce Corrections Officer Elvis Fejzic was recently awarded the 2020 Correctional Officer of the Year Award by the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association.Sheriff John D. Idleburg nominated CO Fejzic for the award after he successfully saved two lives by stopping two inmate suicide attempts in 2020.In August of 2020, CO Fejzic observed an inmate attempting to choke himself with a bedsheet. CO Fejzic immediately took action, entered the inmate’s cell and unwrapped the sheet from around the inmate’s neck. A month later CO Fejzic located an inmate attempting suicide with a t-shirt in his jail cell. CO Fejzic and his partner, Corrections Officer Matthew Outinen, immediately entered the inmate’s cell, cut the shirt off of the inmate’s neck, and administered first-aid.Additionally, due to CO Fejzic was recognized for his thoroughness, as he prevented numerous items of contraband from entering the interior of the jail.Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “I am very proud of Corrections Officer Elvis Fejzic and excited he received such a prestigious award from the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. The dedication and service-oriented mindset of our corrections officers often go unseen by the community, as their heroic actions occur behind closed doors. Each and every day, our corrections officers work diligently to make a positive impact on those incarcerated and continually participate in efforts to reduce recidivism.”

The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association is pleased to announce that Clinton County Sheriff’s Telecommunicator Kelly Keserauskis has been named the 2020 Telecommunicator of the Year based on her quick-thinking and valiant actions on August 13, 2020.Each year the ISA awards Deputy of the Year, Corrections Officer of the Year, and Telecommunicator of the year. The ISA is tasked with making a tough decision regarding the numerous nominations they receive from Sheriff’s throughout the State. The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association has chosen Kelly Keserauskis based on her shrewd actions on August 13, 2020 and the events that followed.On August 13th, 2020 at 12:59pm, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a cardiac arrest at a golf course in Carlyle. Telecommunicator Kelly Keserauskis answered the 911 caller who stated his friend had collapsed while golfing and he was going to start CPR. Keserauskis gathered vital information in a timely manner, contacted Carlyle Police Department by radio to respond, and dispatched Carlyle Fire Department to the scene.Due to the location of the cardiac arrest on the golf course, and emergency units unable to respond directly to the victim, Keserauskis contacted the golf course manager by phone to have golf carts ready at the entrance to the course for emergency responders. The victim was revived, taken to the emergency room and survived the incident.The extraordinary efforts by Keserauskis resulted in timely lifesaving measures for first responders. Her quick thinking and sense of adaptability will continue providing the highest quality of service to first responders and citizens of Clinton County.