By Jeff Vorva
Beecher Police Chief Terrence Lemming did a little bragging as two members of his department were honored at the October 28 village board meeting. Sgt. Aaron DaCorte and Officer Dylan Lorek were recognized for their action during a couple of incidents in the summer.
Lemming said on June 1, DaCorte took a call at the Dollar General Store because subjects tried to use counterfeit bills to pay for products.
“The sergeant had the foresight to check the flock cameras, contacted the Grant Park Police Department, and proceeded to the Grant Park Dollar Store, where the subjects were found,” Lemming said. “One of the subjects also passed counterfeit currency at the Grant Park Casey store before Sgt. DaCorte arrived.
“The three subjects were arrested and found with a significant amount of counterfeit currency.”
The chief said they were charged with numerous felonies.
“Sgt. DaCorte displayed exceptional skills and went above and beyond what was expected, which is a credit to him and the Beecher Police Department,” Lemming said.
On August 8, it was a hot day and a subject went missing, Lemming said. Lorek, who is a volunteer member of a canine group, had some connections and eventually found a witness who saw the subject earlier in the day.
“When we got the new information, we re-located all of the people to the area where he was last seen,” Lemming said. “He was found right before nightfall. If we didn’t find him then, he may have been in peril.”
Times are a changing
The board put the final touches on changing meeting times from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting in December.
Meanwhile, there is another change to the schedule, as the board will next meet on November 12 rather than November 11, which is a Veterans Day holiday.
Vape shop update
The board voted to have its attorney draw up an ordinance granting a special use permit in the downtown business district for a vape and smoke shop at 759 Indiana Avenue.
The board will vote on the ordinance in a future meeting.