Cowsert named Officer of the Year for work with children ? Arlington ...

Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael Cowsert was named officer of the year by the police department for his efforts working with special education children at local schools.

Cowsert, a 15-year veteran of the department, was nominated by two detectives and received recommendations from many of the people who work with him at Timber Ridge and Miner Schools, where he is the school liaison officer.

Cowsert is a youth investigator assigned to the criminal investigation bureau, but has also worked as a patrol officer, school resource officer, instructor for the Citizen Police Academy and continues to help the department as a traffic crash reconstructionist.

At two Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization schools ? therapeutic day school Timber Ridge and Miner ? he often works with children and teenagers that have special needs.

?That does take a special officer and Mike is a very caring and compassionate officer,? said Capt. Richard Niedrich, who is in charge of the department?s investigations division. ?We have received rave reviews about his performance and how he interacts with the staff and the student body.?

Those that nominated him said he has a remarkable ability to explain to children with special needs that what they did wrong and why it was wrong and why they were being reprimanded ? which can be a challenge for kids who can?t make the connection between their aggression and the consequence.

He spearheaded a golf outing fundraiser at Timber Ridge to raise money for former students who could not afford to go to college. The outing raised enough money to give two students $2,000 each toward college.

He is also a nationally recognized crash reconstructionist, on whom the department still relies to put together the circumstances of serious and fatal crashes ? even in the middle of the night.

?Mike is one of the key individuals we count on, even with his other responsibilities,? Niedrich said. ?He is a dedicated, enthusiastic employee who just is very caring and compassionate with all people he comes in contact with. He?s a very special police officer and just very deserving.?

The police department along with the Arlington Heights Rotary Club will honor Cowsert with the 2011 L.W. Calderwood Officer of the Year Award at an awards luncheon March 8 at the Wellington of Arlington Restaurant.

Source: http://triblocal.com/arlington-heights/2012/03/05/cowsert-named-officer-of-the-year-for-work-with-children/

rawhide bigfoot tony romo twilight zone sandra dee nfl draft 2012 mayan calendar