Daley, top cop honor city's finest

Mayor Richard M. Daley and Police Supt. Terry Hillard Tuesday honored a number of Chicago's finest and bravest police and firemen for their heroic deeds.

Mayor Daley said he was honored to pay tribute to the officers and firefighters and that he "had the greatest respect" for their duties and acts of bravery.

Daley, Hillard and Chicago Fire Comm. James Joyce said these men should be uplifted when they put their lives on the line to save others who are vulnerable and whose lives are literally at risk.

Eugene Williams 15th District Cmdr. from the Austin District said he is very proud of the heroic acts of Officers Darryl M. Gilbert and Anthony R. Johnson who on Jan. 11, 2001 heard two gunshots coming from a West Side building and without thinking of their own safety, dashed up two flights of stairs after hearing a young woman calling for help.

"There was a lot of gunfire in the house itself and they came to the rescue. At that point, the doors burst open and a young man ran out followed by another man who shot several times."

Police officials said a terrified child ran from another room and as Gilbert pulled the child to safety, a frightened man ran from the bedroom towards the officers, when a gunman appeared and began shooting a round of bullets into the man's back. When the officers returned the fire, the gunman jumped through a closed window onto a roof of a porch.

Johnson gave aid to the two wounded victims while comforting the frightened children. Gilbert ran outside and arrested the offender.

Officer Miguel Rios, received the city's highest award for bravery during the annual Carter Harrison/Lambert Tree Award ceremony held in the City Council Council chambers.

Rios saved his partner's life when he fired on an armed assailant who had stolen his partner's gun during a drug mission on Sept. 18, 2000 inside a public housing building.

"These awards are designed to honor our heroes," said Hillard. "But, they are also designed to remind the public of the sacrifices our men and women are making every day to better our city."

Special honorable mentions were given to officers Eric Lee and Vincent L. Barner and other Englewood (7th) police district tactical officers who came to the aid of a citizen being beaten by three men in an alley on Aug. 19, 2001.

Other special mentions went to Officers Brian Strouse, Detective Joseph Airhart Jr., officers Bradley J. Bertram and Kenneth L. Tojong, Mark Del Boccio, Edward H. Louis, Deon Hughes, Daniel E. Ludwi, Enrique Pacheco Jr, Albert Nelson Jr. Derrick G. Rowe Jr.; Raymond R. Piwnicki and Robert J. Smith; Scott E. Plebanski, Anthony M. Skokal and John E. Schiro.

Photograph (Terry Hillard, Richard M. Daley, Eugene Williams)