Devine Presents Awards to Citizens
for Help on Arson Cases
Cook County State's Attorney Richard
Devine, along with United State's Attorney Patrick
Fitzgerald will present the 2006 Illinois Arson Awards,
given by the Illinois Advisory Committee on Arson
Prevention, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 11 to citizens
whose cooperation and bravery led to the conviction
of dangerous criminals.
Those nominated by the Cook County State's
Attorney Office include civilians:
Samuel Iloka, who suffered third degree burns and
endured two skin grafts after his brother-in-law set
him on fire in 1993 following a dispute over ice cream
sales. Iloka's testimony and commitment helped secure
a 36-year-prison sentence for the offender.
Anne Cowan, wife of author David Cowan,
who wrote the nationally known book "To Sleep
with Angels" about the 1968 Our Lady of the Angels
School Fire in Chicago, provided eyewitness accounts
about a fire her husband started in 2005 at St. Benedicts
Parish School, where he had been employed. Mrs. Cowan
was able to provide the police with important information,
which led to the arrest and ultimately successful
prosecution of Cowan.
In addition to the 11 civilians who
will receive cash awards ranging from $750 to $1500,
23 officials will receive recognition for their assistance
in providing information on cases that have led to
successful prosecutions and suppression of arson in
Illinois.
Several Park Ridge Police Officers and
Chicago Police officers are being commended for their
coordinated efforts in ending a former Chicago Fire
Department Lieutenant's serial arson spree on Chicago's
Northwest side last year. Jeffrey Boyle was convicted
and sentenced earlier this year for starting eight
fires, four in Park Ridge and four in Chicago.
The other 2006 Arson Award recipients
include: Chinitha Brandon, Paul Sheridan, Lynn Sheridan,
David Dudkowski, Marcheel Hill, Ellen Lee, Adam Bramwell,
Sam Stolidakis and Jim Earley; Assistant Special Agent
Steve Brezette, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Assistant
United State's Attorneys', Patrick Layng and Pravin
Rao; Auditor Joan Colson, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms;
Paralegal Elizabeth Kopp, United State's Attorney's
Office; Assistant State's Attorney Maureen Delehanty;
Detective James Winston, Detective Kevin Lucas, Detective
Stanley Shier, Lieutenant Wayne Micek, Detective Michael
Mazur and Detective John Cella, Chicago Police Department
Bomb and Arson Unit; Fire Marshall Victor Megaro and
Lieutenant Jason Mardirosian, Chicago Fire Department,
Office of Fire Investigations; J.D. Thomas, Harvey
Police Department (Retired); Sergeant Edward Adams
and Detective Michael Rose, Chicago Police Department;
Lieutenant Joseph Kinnerk, Chicago Fire Department;
Detective Arnie Sanetra, Sergeant Robert Kampwirth,
and Detective Anthony Raitano, Park Ridge Police Department;
Michael Deckelmann, Chicago Fire Department (Retired)
and Dale Mangelsdorf, Chicago Transit Authority.
The awards ceremony will take in the
12th floor library of the Cook County Criminal Courts
Building at 2650 S. California.
I.A.C.A.P. was created to encourage
citizen cooperation with state and local authorities
in the investigation and arrest of arsonists. To report
suspected arson, concerned citizens can call
1-800-252-2947 or their local law enforcement agency.
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