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L-R: MPD Chief Curt Barker, MPD Officer Steve Huffman, MPD Officer Nick Severs, OPS Det. Matt Haslam, Cpl. Guy Huston, OPS Sgt. Curt Bilbrey, OPS Interim Dir. Derek Watts and OPS TC Adam Becker {Not pictured: OPS Officer Brant Bonifas}. Photo by WIU Visual Production Center.
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WIU OPS Officers, Telecommunicator Receive Commendation for Actions

December 16, 2020

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MACOMB, IL – Four Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety police officers and an OPS telecommunicator received letters of commendation from WIU today (Dec. 16) for their quick action, and subsequent investigation, in response to an incident Sept. 15 involving a student being allegedly shot by his roommate. In addition, OPS recognized two Macomb Police Department (MPD) officers for their efforts.

OPS Sgt. Curt Bilbrey, Cpl. Guy Huston, Det. Matt Haslam and Officer Brant Bonifas, along with WIU Telecommunicator Adam Becker, were honored by Office of Public Safety Interim Director Derek Watts. MPD Officers Steve Huffman and Nick Severs were also recognized by WIU.

Bilbrey and Huston were the first officers on the scene. Bilbrey coordinated officer response, and assisted with getting the victim to waiting ambulance crews, while Huston assisted with coordinating the search in the 19-story building for the suspect. Haslam and Bonifas also responded to the scene, and assisted in covering the area to ensure the safety of residents and other emergency personnel, as well as searching for the suspect. Haslam has also served as the lead investigator for the incident. Becker was the telecommunicator on duty during the evening of Sept. 15 and dispatched units to the scene for the original call (fire alarm activation) and while officers were en route, Becker received the central broadcast regarding the shooting and alerted officers. Over the next two hours, he took and made numerous phone calls and monitored and made more than 130 radio transmissions, single handedly.

"I truly believe that the swift actions of our officers, along with those other first responders from MPD and other agencies,* along with the efforts of the Thompson Hall housing staff, helped save lives, and the calm presence that Adam demonstrated gave our officers, as well as the many callers reaching out to OPS, a great deal of reassurance," Watts noted. "I am proud to lead a department that consists of dedicated professionals. The women and men of OPS do their jobs well, and uphold their oath to protect and serve every day."

*Editor's Note: Illinois State Police, McDonough, Fulton and Warren counties sheriff's offices, Monmouth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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