Full Notification

The North Aurora Police Department is proud to announce that four of its officers recently received recognition for their excellent work in 2009.

They were recognized at the North Aurora Lion’s Club annual awards banquet on January 26th at Gaslite Manor in Aurora.

Sergeant Joseph DeLeo was named the 2009 Police Officer of the Year by the North Aurora Lion’s Club. He was nominated for his efforts to increase DUI enforcement, solve worsening gang & violence problems at a local bar, and for efforts to catch burglars during the night.

He was nominated by two of his officers, one of his peers, and his supervisor. He has been with the NAPD for 12 years.

Also nominated for the award were Officer Doug Kitner and Officer John Kerlin. Kitner was nominated for his recent contributions to a Tactical Medical Response class that was built from the ground up.

This course teaches medical “care under fire” for officers to treat fallen officers or civilians when traditional medical care is not available.

He has been with the department for 13 years.
Officer Kerlin was nominated for his efforts apprehending burglars during the night as well as DUI enforcement. Officer Kerlin was involved in arresting three separate burglars, who broke into a total of seven vehicles in 2009.

He also led the department with 33 out of the department’s 165 DUI arrests. He has been a member of the department for 9 years.

Finally, Officer Robyn Stecklein, the NAPD’s crime prevention officer, was named the 2009 North Aurora Lion of the Year.

Part of Officer Stecklein’s job is to liaise with various community groups, including the Lion’s Club. She attends meetings as a member of the police department, but she goes above and beyond by attending numerous Club events on her own time.

She is also willing to help others any way she can and always has a good attitude. She has been with the NAPD for 11 years.