O’Fallon police officer honored for life-saving heroics as department adds new personnel

A man is alive today, thanks to the lifesaving efforts of O’Fallon police officer Brad Thomas.

Police Chief Kirk Brueggeman honored Thomas with the police department’s Lifesaving Award for his actions stemming from a medical call at the O’Fallon City Council meeting Jan. 18.

“Without his quick actions, that man would not be alive today,” Brueggeman said.

On Oct. 23, 2021, Brueggeman said Thomas self-dispatched to the scene of a life-threatening medical emergency on Interstate 64. He had overheard radio traffic from the Illinois State Police and was the first to arrive. There was a distressed motorist, and Thomas performed chest compressions for over four minutes, until other personnel arrived.

Then, Thomas assisted MedStar EMS with preparing and loading the patient for transport to a local hospital.

“The patient’s family was extremely thankful for Officer Thomas’ quick actions which they credit for saving their loved one’s life,” Brueggeman said.

Brueggeman also announced the addition of five police officers to the O’Fallon Police Department over the past month: Will Carter, Dan Hesselbacher, Hayden Schaefer, Michael Shewmaker and Scott Voltrain.

Brueggeman said that brings the department’s current total to 49, and they had been up to 50. Retirements and promotions had created openings.

“We have been fortunate, and our police commissioners have been trying to find the best people,” Roach said.

Meet the new OFP officers

Schaefer is a recent graduate of McKendree University, where he had both baseball and academic scholarships. He had worked as a camp counselor for the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Shewmaker initially began his career as a telecommunicator in 2019 in the Metro East Communications Command Center at the OPD. He has been a volunteer firefighter in the city and is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Voltrain formerly worked at the Waterloo Police Department. He is a graduate of O’Fallon Township High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Meanwhile, Carter was previously with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. Both Voltrain and Carter joined the department through the Lateral Entry Program.

Brueggeman said both Schaefer and Shewmaker were attending the Police Academy at Southwestern Illinois College prior to beginning their field training program.

Hesselbacher returns to OPD

The department welcomed back Hesselbacher, who had previously served as a patrol officer for five years before taking a leave of absence. Prior to that, he had served in the U.S. Air Force for 12 years.

“We are super-excited to have him back,” Brueggeman said.

“We would like to congratulate them and thank them for choosing the city of O’Fallon as the place to begin their law enforcement careers,” Brueggeman said.

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners score candidates based on a physical aptitude test, interview, experience, polygraph test and background check. They can use a psychological evaluation and medical examination as part of the procedure, too. All criteria are established in writing.

The board conducts Oral Interview and Experience Assessments on a quarterly basis during the months of March, June, September and December.

Lateral Entry Program

A Lateral Entry Program means people currently employed full-time and in good standing as a police officer with an Illinois municipality may be considered — as well as a laid off — for budgetary or financial reasons within 12 months of an announced testing date can apply.

Out of state applications must provide documentation they have fulfilled requirements of their training boards to be certified as a full-time law enforcement officer and be eligible in Illinois.

They must provide information to show their current responsibilities and duties are similar to what’s expected in O’Fallon and according to the Illinois Police Training Act.

The lateral eligibility list expires one year from the date it is published. Each candidate has an expiration date for their eligibility and can only compete once every 12 months.

More about program

Candidates can complete a lateral entry application and also take the traditional written test, with the consortium, to be considered on both lists.

Lateral entry applicants are not required to attend an orientation or take the entry level written examination. However, these candidates must successfully complete all other phases of the entry-level process before being offered employment.

For more information or an application, click on the link: https://wearthebadge.com/lateral-entry-program/.

This story was originally published January 26, 2022 at 7:00 AM.