East Moline Police Sgt. William Lind and Moline Police Officer Cody Parmenter have been named as the 2021 Officers of the Year by the Breakfast Optimist Club.
The two men were among six officers honored during a Wednesday, April 13, ceremony, hosted by the Illinois Quad Cities club. The Optimist Club presented the two Officers of the Year awards and honored four other finalists for their work accomplishments in 2021.
Mr. Parmenter also was selected by the Optimist committee as the 2021 Top Cop.
Mr. Lind was nominated for his work at the Quad Cities Federal Gang Task Force, where he spearheaded one of the largest cases for illegal drug and weapon distribution operating in the Quad Cities area. He also worked diligently to stop several shootings in the spring of 2021 between two gangs that led to multiple firearm violation arrests. In addition, Mr. Lind has been actively involved in community service projects such as Shop with a Cop and Holiday Food Baskets.
Mr. Parmenter was nominated for improving the safety and quality of life in the community by building community trust and collaboration, as well as enhancing the professionalism, teamwork and integrity of the department. In 2021, he made over 45 felony arrests, mostly for drug delivery and drug possession charges, as well as 25 driving under the influence arrests. He made several arrests for gun crimes, unlawful use of a weapon and armed violence.
The Moline police officer was also recognized for developing a community oriented policing program to emphasize the importance of staying in school and being a productive member of the community. The program strives to build and strengthen the relationship between the police department and the city’s youth.
Mr. Parmenter previously was awarded the Life Saving Award for his actions on March 15, 2021, when he saved a person from a burning house fire.
The other Officer of the Year finalists were:
- East Moline Police Sgt. Kyle Schultz, nominated for dedication, training, and expertise in developing officers.
- East Moline Detective Riley Reeves, nominated for his community policing efforts.
- Moline Police Sgt. Joe Kluever, nominated for difficult and complex juvenile investigation cases.
- Moline Police Officer Adam Medina, nominated for heroic actions in the face of danger of an armed individual.
The winners were chosen by the committee of Optimist members from a total of nine nominations from the Moline and East Moline police departments. They were judged on their heroism, community service, meritorious performance and club purpose.
“The Breakfast Optimist Club members are very proud of our law enforcement officers and the great work that they do in our community, John Zelnio, the club’s Top Cop Committee chairman, said in a news release.
Expressing his gratitude for the program, Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said “These awards that are judged by community members are very special because they are independent evaluations of the officers without any influence from police management,” he said. “The appreciation from the community resonates throughout the department and is greatly appreciated.”
Echoing the sentiments was East Moline Police Chief Jeff Ramsey, who thanked the club for recognizing all the nominees. “Officers are recognized internally, but to be recognized by people in the community they serve means a lot to them,” he added. “Congratulations to all of the nominees and award winners, your dedication to the job and desire to protect and serve the community often goes unnoticed, but today you are being recognized, and deservingly so … ”
For more information about the Breakfast Optimist Club, contact Club President Brian Heffernan or Committee Chair John Zelnio at breakfastoptimistil@gmail.com.
