Each year, the Elkhart Noon Exchange Club recognizes law enforcement officers doing great work. The 2007 honors were announced Tuesday during the club’s regular meeting at Christiana Creek Country Club. In addition to Lehman, Elkhart Police Department Cpl. Eric Sommer received praise for his work.

Patrolman Lehman was chosen for the honor because of his commitment to keep Elkhart County’s roads safe. Lehman had 1,500 contacts in 2007 for traffic violations he observed. He serves on the Fatal Alcohol Crash Team as an investigator and is a member of the department’s Emergency Services Unit.

“With just two years on the department, Casey has far exceeded our expectations for traffic enforcement,” Patrol Capt. Sean Holmes said. “He’s one of those guys who is committed to his job and will provide assistance to the public in any way he can.”

Valor
Rick Drinkwine (1994)

Lifesaving
Lon Smith (1986)
Jean Sedlar (1989)
Sheldon Brown (1993)
Don Cramer (1995)
Christopher Grathen (1998)
Mike McHenry (1998)
Jim Smith (2000)
Sharon Lowry (2003)
John Rosson (2006)

Citizenship
Marlene Bontrager (2006)
Jenna Coleman (2007)

Indiana DAV selects Detective Perry for award
Detective John Perry has a knack for communication, and it all begins with respect.

"You have to treat people like people. If you treat everyone with respect, you don't have problems with them," said Perry, who is the 2007 recipient of the Indiana Disabled American Veterans' officer of the year award. He was recognized during the DAV state convention June 9 in Indianapolis.

Perry was hired by the sheriff's department full-time in 1984, and quickly advanced through the ranks in the jail. He was hired as a patrol officer in January 1987, and finished first in his class at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He has served as the captain of both the corrections and patrol division, and in February was promoted to detective.

Each day, he utilizes those years of contacts to conduct his investigations and help other officers make breakthroughs on theirs.

"You have to be a great salesman to do this job," Perry said. "I start conversations by saying everything you tell me I'm going to use against you to put you in prison. And people still talk."

Perry said being recognized by the DAV is perhaps his proudest accomplishment "because I've always had a tremendous soft spot in my heart for veterans. My grandfather was in World War II, and I had cousins and other family go to war."

Perry, 42, is married and has one daughter. He is a volunteer firefighter, and is a former winner of Elkhart County government's commitment to service award.

Sheriff honors Schrock for lifetime of service
Noah Schrock just wants to be remembered for being fair. To make sure his lifetime of community service isn't forgotten, he is now just the fourth person to receive the sheriff's meritorious service award.

"I don't think there's anyone more deserving of this honor," Sheriff Mike Books said.

Noah, the department's chief mechanic, was honored during his retirement party April 13. Now 71, he was a sheriff's reserve deputy for half his life (1968-2002) and a former fire chief. In addition to those volunteer services, he was the primary source of information for locals and passersby when he ran the old Conoco station in Middlebury.

"Noah, you have touched so many lives," wrote Carl Eash of Varns and Hoover Hardware in a letter recognizing his retirement. "... Thank you for all the time that you have given. You have dedicated a lifetime (to) helping others with repairs. Now your spiritual gifts continue to help others with your caring ways."

Noah and his wife, Florence, have three children and four grandchildren. They are proud members of the First United Methodist Church, and Noah intends to spend even more of his time with church activities now that he is retired.

"I need to stay moving about," Noah told The Truth newspaper. "I don't want to sit on my duff and get fat or something. I can't do the physical things I once did, but I want to keep moving around."