A pair of police officers received special recognition at the Buffalo Grove Village Board meeting earlier this month, with police officials presenting them with honors for their work with the police department and a county task force.
Officer Eric Sarat and Investigator Jaime Verduzco were honored during the March 7 board meeting, officials announced in a news release.
Sarat was named Buffalo Grove “Police Officer of the Year 2021? and Verduzco was awarded a “Special Commendation.”
“Officer Sarat was recognized for his enthusiasm for his work, contributions to the Major Crash Assistance Team and his willingness to train fellow officers on new technology,” officials said in the release.
The release states that Verduzco, an investigator, was honored for his contributions to both the Buffalo Grove Police Department and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
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“I am incredibly proud of these officers. Their passion for their work is evident in their actions. They are both incredibly deserving of this recognition,” police Chief Steven Casstevens said in the release.
Sarat was sworn in as a Buffalo Grove police officer in March 2018 and recently became a member of the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team. He was recognized for “consistently giving his all” in his role, especially traffic enforcement, officials said in the release.
The release states that Sarat sets high goals for himself, looks to be the department’s top traffic law enforcer and is eager to take on investigating traffic accidents – which helped lead him to be part of the Major Crash Assistance Team.
Additionally, he is credited with voluntarily working to become familiar with new technology and then training other officers on it, the release states.
Verduzco has been a Buffalo Grove police officer since 2006.
“Investigator Verduzco has successfully carried the caseload of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force as well as multiple Buffalo Grove cases,” officials said in the release, stated that he worked on the task force on several cases in Lake County.
He was called upon by the task force to aid in investigating various homicides, including an officer-involved shooting,” the release states.
Officials noted in the release that Verduczo also helped newer officers in his unit while balancing his time with the task force. He has also been able help with Spanish translation in several police units.
“Investigator Verduzco, a veteran in his unit, stepped in to assist and advise new colleagues as they learned the roles and responsibilities of an investigator,” officials said in the release.