Employee Recognition

Champaign Police hold an Employee Awards Ceremony each year to recognize our staff. This event celebrates good work and offers thanks for commitment to our city. The 2024 ceremony took place on May 15. At CPD, our success comes from a commitment to excellence, built on trust, integrity, and respect.

Please join us in congratulating the honorees from 2024. They were nominated by their peers for their outstanding service during 2023.

Officer of the Year

Detective Lauren Hill consistently demonstrates unmatched dedication, skill, and initiative in her work. She goes far beyond expectations – arriving early and staying after hours to assist colleagues, volunteering for complex roles, and never hesitating to step up when the department or community needs her. In one outstanding example of her efforts in 2024, she coordinated six separate search warrants in the same day across multiple locations and involving several agencies, covering every detail and serving as the point person for all questions without missing a beat. She also took the initiative to address a departmental gap in traffic reconstruction by researching training, identifying costs, and volunteering to pursue certification.

Throughout the year, she has been instrumental in major cases, including a double homicide where she took over lead responsibilities and an operation that led to the arrest of an armed suspect robbing people during internet transactions. Her work has directly resulted in the arrest of violent offenders, the recovery of illegal firearms, and the protection of vulnerable victims. Beyond investigations, she serves on the Honor Guard and participates in Illinois COPS initiatives, honoring fallen officers while representing CPD with professionalism and heart.

Detective Hill is a truly invaluable member of the Champaign Police Department and is hereby recognized as our agency’s 2024 Officer of the Year.

Employee of the Year

G. David Frye has been an invaluable member of the Champaign Police Department, playing a key role in developing the High-Tech Crime Unit (HTCU) into a critical component of our major investigations. With a strong background in computer science, he has built expertise in digital forensics, particularly in the analysis of cell phones and, more recently, video forensics. In 2024, he earned the prestigious Forensic Video Analyst Certification from the Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association. This is a rare and highly challenging achievement that allows him to serve as an expert witness in court and provides a unique capability within the region. His skills have made him a sought-after resource for law enforcement agencies throughout Central Illinois.

For half of 2024, Mr. Frye single-handedly managed the unit’s operational demands while the unit had two vacancies. He often worked extended hours and responded to emergencies off-shift. In addition to his forensic work, he contributed significantly to the programming and configuration of the new Public Safety Cameras, saving the City tens of thousands of dollars by completing the project in-house. Mr. Frye’s dedication and impact on critical cases have directly contributed to numerous convictions, and his contributions deserve meaningful recognition as the 2024 Champaign Police Department Employee of the Year.

Volunteer of the Year

It takes a professional staff to keep the Champaign Police Department running. Additionally, it takes the effort of a dedicated handful of volunteers, who are willing to assist CPD staff, offering their skills to the department in exchange for education and the opportunity to do some good.

For nearly two decades, Tim Kesler has dedicated his time to the Champaign Police Department, primarily serving with the Crime Scene Unit. He consistently works two six-hour shifts each week on the AFIX Tracker and always asks if there’s additional work he can assist with, aiding the Records Department as well. Tim approaches every task with dedication, even adjusting his personal schedule to ensure the job gets done. Beyond his work ethic, Tim brings a warm and friendly presence to the department. He takes time to engage with staff and visitors, genuinely caring about those around him. His unwavering support for the department, including his regular attendance at charity events, exemplifies a level of commitment that is truly unmatched.

Lifesaving Award

The Lifesaving Award is presented to officers who have taken significant steps to save a life. This award is intended to honor those actions which directly result in a person being saved.

Officer Doug Bluhm and Officer Jonathan Gress

On February 29, 2024, a 37-year-old man suffered a heart attack while driving his vehicle and trailer, leaving the road and getting stuck in the grass near Country Fair Drive and Church Street. Bystanders quickly intervened, breaking a window to remove him from the vehicle, just before Officer Gress arrived and began CPR. Officer Bluhm followed, cutting away the man’s clothing and delivering a critical shock with an AED that helped revive him. Thanks to the swift, skilled actions of both officers, the man regained a pulse, was transported to the hospital.

Officer Doug Bluhm and Officer Matt Silver

On October 30, 2024, Officers Bluhm and Silver responded to a call about a man preparing to jump from the Olympian Drive overpass onto I-57. Using a public address system to overcome wind and traffic noise, Officer Bluhm established initial contact while Officer Silver positioned himself to engage directly. They discovered the man was experiencing delusions, and through skilled negotiation, convinced him to step away from the ledge. Officer Silver then safely took him into custody, transporting him for medical evaluation and saving his life.

Officer Matt Silver

In the early morning hours of May 31, 2024, officers responded to a report of a suicidal woman sitting on the N. Prospect Ave/I-74 overpass, looking down at the interstate. Officer Silver arrived quickly, secured the area by shutting down surrounding roadways, and began speaking with the distraught woman, who initially threatened to jump. Over the course of an hour, Officer Silver, with the support of Officer Agudelo, showed patience, empathy, and determination, ultimately convincing her to step away from the ledge. She was safely transported for evaluation, and both officers were instrumental in ensuring her safety and preventing further harm. Officer Silver is especially commended for his leadership, compassion, and life-saving actions during this critical incident.

Lifesaving Award – Officer Logan Retzer and Officer Jordan Wooten

Officers Retzer and Wooten responded to a call about a suicidal man in the 700 Block of South Fair who had been stabbing himself with a knife. Upon arrival, they calmed the subject and persuaded him to drop the weapon, discovering a large and severe wound above his left knee that was bleeding heavily. Acting quickly, Officer Wooten applied a tourniquet while both officers packed the wound with gauze. They then restrained the man when he tried to remove the tourniquet to continue harming himself. Recognizing the urgency, they chose to transport him immediately to the hospital, a decision that medical personnel later credited with saving his life.

Officer Christopher Aikman, Officer Payton Adams, and Officer Nikolas Cook

 

 

 

 

 

On January 16th, 2024, Officers Aikman and Adams responded to a reported overdose on W. Interstate Drive and found the subject unresponsive with no pulse. They quickly administered Narcan and began CPR, working to revive him. Officer Cook arrived with an additional dose of Narcan, which he promptly used, then took over CPR until medical personnel arrived. Their swift actions and teamwork saved the man’s life, and a family member later praised the officers for their compassion and empathy at the scene.

 

Distinguished Leadership Award

Leadership is an indispensable quality for any supervisor. On rare occasions, individuals display a level of leadership so exceptional it deserves acknowledgment and praise. Officer Ward is being recognized by his peers for outstanding leadership demonstrated as Team Leader of the Crisis Negotiation Unit.

Sergeant Sean Ater has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to officer preparedness, safety, and community protection throughout 2024 and into 2025. He has led monthly Active Threat Rapid Response courses at ILEAS, ensuring every Champaign Police Department officer is certified and ready to respond to high-risk incidents. In January 2024, he served as the lead instructor for a large-scale Multi-Jurisdictional Rescue Task Force training, which brought together over 100 participants from at least seven different police, fire, and EMS agencies to enhance interagency coordination. Beyond leading training, Sgt. Ater has actively pursued additional certifications from outside organizations to strengthen the department’s readiness and has started work on an assessment team to proactively identify and mediate potentially threatening behavior before anyone can be harmed. He has also acted as a liaison between CPD and agencies across the state, fostering cooperation while creating growth opportunities for fellow officers through instructor development and mentorship. His influence has not only elevated the department’s preparedness but has inspired others through his commitment to excellence. For these reasons and more, Sgt. Sean Ater has been selected for the Chief’s Distinguished Leadership Award.

Sergeant Dane Kaldahl has exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism throughout his time with the Champaign Police Department, earning him a promotion to Sergeant in January 2025. Over the past year, Dane has balanced the demands of becoming a new father with a tireless commitment to the department—serving as a key figure in the Field Training program, a lead defensive tactics instructor, and a standout member of the SWAT Team. His impact as an FTO is seen through the long hours he invests in training recruits and the high standards he upholds, both in classroom instruction and in the field. As one of the department’s lead instructors in defensive tactics, Dane brings both formal training and personal discipline through Jiu-Jitsu, ensuring officers are well-prepared and confident in their abilities. His leadership was especially critical during a 2024 SWAT operation in Mansfield, where his knowledge of less-lethal tactics helped bring a volatile standoff with armed robbery suspects to a peaceful resolution. Dane doesn’t just participate, he leads by example, consistently pushing himself and those around him to be better. His hard work, initiative, and influence on others make him worthy of selection for the Chief’s Distinguished Leadership Award.

In 2023, Gregory Manzana stepped into the role of Investigations Lieutenant with humility, curiosity, and a clear commitment to supporting his team. From the beginning, he made it known that he was there to be a resource, not just a supervisor. He fostered an environment of collaboration and open communication. Greg encouraged innovative thinking and never hesitated to support operations that fell outside traditional approaches. He consistently showed a genuine interest in the work of his investigators, frequently checking in and offering assistance wherever it was needed. Despite the demands of his leadership position, Greg remained actively involved in major investigations, balancing hands-on work with his administrative responsibilities. His January 2025 promotion to Deputy Chief was well earned, but his presence, leadership, and approachability within the Investigations Division reflects the highest standard of leadership in the Champaign Police Department.

Overall Fitness Award

The Champaign Police Department requires that officers take an annual physical fitness test. In 2023, CPD decided to do more than run the test. Department policies were revised to recognize the fitness of our peers. The top performers in each gender and age group are recognized. These honorees also exceeded all standards for each test.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commendation Awards

Special performance by a member of this Department requires special recognition. Each year, CPD highlights exceptional work through a peer-nominated Commendation Process. This allows us to recognize performance that is “above and beyond” the call of duty. The 2025 Commendation recipients are: