The Park Forest Police Department recognized two members for their exemplary service during Monday night’s Village Board meeting, presenting the 2025 Officer of the Year and Civilian Employee of the Year awards.
Sergeant Purdy was named Officer of the Year, an honor awarded annually to the sworn member who best exemplifies the principles and purposes of the department through performance, dedication, and leadership.
A nine-year veteran of the department, Purdy has been nominated for Officer of the Year for four consecutive years and has received numerous commendations, including the Second Quarter Term Award in 2025. Throughout the past year, he demonstrated proactive policing that led to multiple firearm-related arrests. In separate incidents, he recovered loaded firearms during street encounters and traffic stops, including one reported stolen. Those cases resulted in charges including aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, and driving under the influence.
Over a six-week period in 2025, Purdy also made eight DUI arrests — four while serving as a field training officer mentoring a probationary officer.
As a field training officer, he has played a key role in developing new officers, helping build confidence and reinforce professional standards. Department leaders cited his leadership and mentorship as factors that consistently produce strong outcomes for personnel and the agency.
In October, Purdy was selected to serve as a detective sergeant, transitioning into the Investigations Unit. In that role, he assumed responsibility for complex felony cases. In one aggravated battery of a senior citizen investigation, he identified and arrested the offender based solely on a vehicle description. In a separate aggravated domestic battery case, he secured a search warrant, coordinated surveillance efforts and led the investigation that resulted in the offender’s arrest and the recovery of narcotics.
In addition to his enforcement and investigative duties, Sgt. Purdy has been a member of the department’s social media team since 2017. He manages the department’s Facebook page, which has grown to more than 28,000 followers and is frequently recognized by community members for creative and engaging content.
The Civilian Employee of the Year award was presented to Records Clerk Katherine “Kat” Worley, who has served the department for 10 years.
Worley was recognized for her critical role in maintaining the department’s records and reporting systems. She processes daily paperwork generated by officers, including entering traffic citations and arrests into the records management system, scanning documentation, and preparing court transfer sheets.
Worley also compiles and distributes monthly state and federal statistical reports, assisting officers with reviewing and correcting data to ensure accuracy before submission.
In addition to her regular duties, Worley has trained coworkers on subpoena preparation and continues to assist with those requests as needed. Department officials noted that she frequently volunteers for overtime shifts while attending college full-time.
Under department policy, the Officer of the Year and Civilian Employee of the Year are selected through a formal review process conducted by the department’s Awards Board. The board, comprised of sworn and civilian representatives from across the agency, reviews nominations and submits recommendations to the chief of police, who retains final approval authority.
The Officer of the Year serves as the department's official representative for the upcoming year and may attend community events and award presentations on behalf of the agency. Both honorees will be recognized on permanent plaques displayed at the Park Forest Police Department.
Police officials said both recipients exemplify the professionalism, dedication, and commitment to service that define the Park Forest Police Department.