The Park Forest Police Department honored two with special awards at Monday night’s Board Meeting at Village Hall.
Police Chief Brian Rzyski presented the department’s annual awards for top civilian employee and officer of the year.
The Civilian Employee of the Year Award honors non-sworn members of the Park Forest Police Department whose roles are vital in helping the department's daily operations.
The recipient of the Civilian Employee of the Year Award, Joel Oyola, began with the department as a part-time community service officer in 2022. In his role, Oyola is tasked with a host of duties including assisting with animal and traffic control, making regular trips to the Markham Courthouse to pick-up sensitive documents, along with enforcing parking ordinances. Oyola’s impact was felt almost immediately after his hire, going on to become full-time in 2023.
"Throughout 2023, [Oyola] has exceeded expectations as a new full-time community service officer and has proven to be an invaluable asset to the department and Village," Rzyski said. "His thoroughness in investigating complaints and violations ensures that violators are abated by way of either compliance or enforcement."
Rzyski also presented the Officer of the Year Award for 2023 to Giovannni Goycochea.
The award – voted on by all members of the department – is given to an officer who best exemplifies performance, principles, purposes of the law, and the Park Forest Police.
Goycochea, who was hired in 2022, has been eager to learn since joining the department and remains positive regardless of the assignment, according to Rzyski.
In 2023, Goycochea “conducted approximately 200 traffic stops, made 15 self-initiated misdemeanor arrests, six self-initiated felony arrests, and seized several vehicles related to gun and DUI arrests," Rzyski said.
Rzyski added that fellow officers admire Goycochea's positive attitude and professionalism and consider him a leader.
"[Goycochea] should be commended for consistently being self-motivated and hardworking," said Rzyski. "He is aggressive in producing a high amount of self-initiated activity and hardworking," said Rzyski. "He is aggressive in producing a high amount of self-initiated activity and making quality arrests."
