River Forest Detective Sgt. Marty Grill can be on the job up to 24 hours a day, according to a statement from Chief Greg Weiss. But Grill remains humble, never complaining if he’s woken up in the middle of the night to give advice on how to proceed with an investigation.
That attitude could explain the Rising Shields of Law Enforcement award that he received early this month at the annual Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. The award was given to four other officers in the state who are considered by their agencies to have strong beliefs about the value of law enforcement and “who are truly making a difference in public safety,” Weiss’ statement said.
The submission criteria included examples of Grill being a transformational leader, inspiring the trust of co-workers and taking personal ownership in the cases he’s investigated. The statement said the department has experienced a “staggering” increase in its crime clearance rate at 242 percent, better case management, the addition of unique technology and innovative intelligence gathering tools, and has been using a regional approach to addressing crime.
Grill received an honorary membership to the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and recognition on the cover of the Illinois Chiefs magazine. The River Forest Police Department also nominated Supports Services Sgt. Michael Thornley.
