News Details

Sergeant's Off-Duty Actions Lauded by Police Department

An Aurora Police Sergeant’s actions while off duty have led to him being named the December “Employee of the Month.”

Sergeant Doug Podschweit, a 17 year Aurora Police veteran was honored for his December 27 actions when he saw a man acting suspiciously while approaching a west side house. Believing the man was going to commit a burglary, Podschweit contacted a member of the department’s Burglary Task Force. Several members of the task force responded to the scene and set up surveillance on the suspect. Eventually, the man went to another home in the same area and broke in all while being watched by the task force officers. When he exited, the police were waiting for him, took him into custody, and charged him with residential burglary.

During the ensuing investigation, detectives connected the man to several other Aurora burglaries as well as one in Bellwood.

“Sergeant Podschweit’s actions demonstrated that a police officer is never really ‘off duty’ and in this case, had an impact on burglaries which is one of the biggest problems we are currently facing,” said Aurora Chief of Police Greg Thomas.

Location: Aurora, Illinois