County’s law enforcement officers honored for work
A Tonganoxie police officer was among law enforcement officers from departments throughout Leavenworth County who were honored last week.
The 19th annual Peace Officers and Police Awards and Memorial Day Event was sponsored by the James Taylor Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12003 and Eagles Aerie 55 Lodge.
The event honored police officers from all over Leavenworth County for commitment to their communities and excellence in service.
The Leavenworth County sheriff’s department and the police departments of Tonganoxie, Basehor, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth and Lansing, and the Veteran’s Affairs police department participated in the ceremony.
Among the award-winners was Tonganoxie police officer Clarence “Chip” Marquardt, who received a Commendation Award.
Marquardt said the award was given because of the myriad duties he takes on for the department — all on a volunteer basis.
“It’s for being a good cop, a good guy, that’s all,” he said. “When they call, I show up. It’s all volunteer work. When they’re short of help, they can call me and I rush down here and put on a uniform and am a police officer.”
He also helped with the recent remodeling of the police station, he works on patrol cars and he’s now qualified as a range officer, which means he can teach firearms courses to other officers.
The major award presented — Officer of the Year for Leavenworth County — went to sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Dedeke for “long and outstanding service to his department and community.”
Dedeke, who didn’t know he was winning the award, had been lured to the banquet on his night off by a request from his boss, Leavenworth County Sheriff David Zoellner, to videotape the awards ceremony.
Dedeke has worked in the sheriff’s department since 1992 and said the examples of his father, Larry Dedeke, and his brother, Jeff Dedeke, inspired him to serve in law enforcement. Larry Dedeke now serves as a Leavenworth city commissioner, and Jeff Dedeke works as a deputy sheriff with his brother in the Leavenworth County sheriff’s department.
Andrew Dedeke said his father loved working as a police officer and always served with pride.
“I have attempted to perform my duties in a manner that he would approve of and make him proud,” he said.
Here are other awards:
Basehor Police Department
- Traci Myracle, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Officer Andrew Slaughter, Lifesaving Citation.
- Officer Lloyd Martley, Lifesaving Citation.
- Cpl. Greg Hallgrimson, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer Dennis Nichols, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Sgt. Martin Cigich, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer Jason Slaughter, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Cpl. Gret Hallgrimson, Officer of the Year — Basehor.
Lansing Police Department
- Officer James Magee, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Officer Michael Heuer, Safety Award.
- Officer Billy Blackwell II, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Sgt. Anthony Waterman, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Detective Scott Crawford, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer Aaron Wilson, Officer of the Year — Lansing.
Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Department
- Dispatcher Perry Carter, Commendation Award.
- K. Jeanette Nessmith-Eyerly, Long and Honorable Service.
- Deputy David Freeman, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Sheriff Herb Nye, Retiree
- Dispatcher Doug Davis, Commendation Award.
- Dispatcher Amy Aaron, Commendation Award.
- Deputy Jim Sherley, Bravery.
- Detective Michael Wehmeyer, Commendation Award, Bravery and Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
Fort Leavenworth Provost Marshal’s Office
- Steven Masley, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Major and Mrs. Michael Masley, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Spc. Brock Tokach, Safety Award.
- Officer Jeffrey Miller, Safety Award.
- Sgt. Roberto Marca, Lifesaving Citation.
- Capt. James Dyson, Long and Honorable Service.
- Master Sgt. Paul Salavitch, Retiree.
- Staff Sgt. Daniel Thomas, Retiree.
- Officer Patrick Little, Officer of the Year – Fort Leavenworth Provost Marshal’s Office.
Leavenworth Police Department
- Officer Jeffery Adams, Safety Award.
- Officer Sean Goecke, Safety Award.
- Officer Shannon Inman, Safety Award.
- Officer Larry Zink, Commendation Award.
- Officer Mark Lingenfelser, Commendation Award.
- Cpl. Todd Bledsoe, Lifesaving Citation.
- Officer Jeff Roach, Lifesaving Citation.
- Officer Stephen Herring, Lifesaving Citation.
- Officer Steven Brandau, Lifesaving Citation.
- Sgt. James Bridges, Lifesaving Citation.
- Chaplain Craig Coffey, Long and Honorable Service.
- Chaplain Carey Coffey, Long and Honorable Service.
- Mark Lingenfelser, Long and Honorable Service.
- Robert Smith, Long and Honorable Service.
- Alan Brugman, Long and Honorable Service.
- Jane McDonald, Long and Honorable Service.
- Officer Nick Nordmann, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Teresa Murphy, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Kevin Schmidt, Certificate of Appreciation.
- Officer Stephen Herring, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer Ralph Sorrell, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer Kevin Metzgar, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer David O’Brien, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer Nick Nordmann, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Cpl. Sean Goecke, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer David O’Brien, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Sgt. James Bridges, Merit Award for Excellent Arrest.
- Officer Ryan Parker, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer Joseph Tavano, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer David O’Brien, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Detective Kevin Crim, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer Sean Goecke, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Officer Jennifer Beard, Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Investigation.
- Sgt. William Slusher, Bravery.
- Officer Larry Zink, Bravery.
- Officer Brian Anderson, Officer of the Year — Leavenworth.
Veterans Affairs Police Department
- Officer Arlene Jackson, Commendation Award.
- Officer Earlest Barton, Officer of the Year – Veterans Affairs Police Department.