MOLINE, Ill. — Police officers put their lives on the line every day. Many go above and beyond their law enforcement duties to make our community safer.
News 8's Beyond the Badge series pays tribute to those officers. This honor is given in memory of Detective Rick Ryckeghem, a 31-year veteran of the Moline Police Department who lost his life to cancer in 2019.
Nominations were submitted by viewers and three finalists were chosen. Beyond the Badge 2023 is sponsored by MillTown Realty, Davenport Guns, and TBK Bank.
Bettendorf Police Officer Brian Morrisey:
Morrisey was nominated by his sister, Erin Morrisey after Officer Morrisey saved a shooting victim's life outside the Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport while off duty.
"He was off duty at the Mississippi Valley Fair, enjoying his night. He was walking back to his car and there was a drive-by shooting. And the young man next to him got shot and Brian without hesitation, whipped off his belt, made a tourniquet, and saved his life," Erin said.
Officer Morrisey said it was a simple reflex.
"I was leaving the concert. It was with a couple of friends and just walking back to get an Uber. And all of a sudden, like, it just happened right in front of me. Totally, totally off guard," Officer Morrisey said.
Fulton Police Officer and Riverbend School District's School Resource Officer Jeremy Leitzen:
Officer Leitzen was nominated by Don Emerson, the father of a student at Fulton High School. Emerson shared his appreciation for Officer Leitzen offering his time to go on the school's trip to Washington DC.
"He volunteers his time. The thing that stood out most to me was that it was summer break, and he had all these other people who needed his time and attention, but yet he decided to make sure that the kids had a good time and they were safe. And that was such a relief as a parent to knowing that they were flying to Washington DC, and they had a police officer there to watch over them," Emerson said.
Officer Leitzen wouldn't have it any other way.
"I tell everybody, this is the best job ever. I love my job. And you know, my wife keeps saying, are you going to retire someday? And I said I'm hoping to go as long as I possibly can. I absolutely love this, love the kids. One of the things that I said six years ago when I started was my kids are graduating and leaving and moving on. And I inherited 1,000 more kids every year," Officer Leitzen said.
Colona Police Officer Mandy Femali:
Officer Femali was nominated by three different individuals for her hands-on approach to the elderly.
"Elderly people are my favorite people. They always have the best stories and they're the most appreciative when you help them. They're the ones that need the most help, especially veterans, elderly veterans, for sure. So, I have a few people here in town that that mean a lot to me," said Officer Femali.
On May 29, 2023, Officer Femali was sick and almost called into work. Instead, she decided to work through being under the weather.
"A few minutes into my shift, we got a call of an unresponsive male in his backyard, and I got there and he was laying facedown on the ground and I flipped him over and I was able to perform CPR on him, and brought him back. After I flipped him over, I realized it was one of my friends. And I didn't actually make the correlation between the address. So once I realized it was him, you know, it really, it was really great that he made it, I was very excited about that. And then he turned 70 on August 14, and I was able to be there for his birthday."
Officer Femali's dedication to the elderly, whom she refers to as her close friends, won her the 2023 Beyond the Badge award.
