3 Lake Co. Sheriff Employees Honored For Aiding Veterans In Need

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Three members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently received high honors from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago.

Lake County Sheriff's Office telecommunicator Monika Reum, deputy Francis Foy and deputy Christopher Orlando received the recognition after being involved in different situations where they provided assistance and resources to veterans in mental distress, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

In September 2023, Foy, who is assigned to the crisis outreach and support team, responded to the home of a veteran in crisis and immediately established a calm rapport with the veteran, while building trust with him, authorities said.

Foy utilized that established trust to facilitate the veteran being transported to the FHCC for needed medical and mental health care and FHCC officials credited Foy with likely saving the man’s life.

In October 2023, Reum took an emergency phone call regarding a veteran in mental distress.

Reum spoke to the caller and learned crucial information and dispatched Orlando to respond to assist the veteran. Because of the time Reum spent gathering the important details, she was able to provide Orlando with valuable information, authorities said.

Orlando arrived at the scene and treated the veteran with compassion and respect, according to the news release. Due to his calm demeanor, he is credited with preventing the already high-risk situation from escalating.

He arranged for the veteran to be transported to the FHCC to receive further treatment and comprehensive care, according to the news release.

Reum, Foy and Orlando all received high praise from officials at the FHCC during a ceremony held at the FHCC on February 5.

“The incredible work done by Telecommunicator Reum, Deputy Foy, and Deputy Orlando truly highlights how deeply our team cares about those in crisis and our Veterans," said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg. "When someone dials 911 and connects with our sheriff’s dispatchers, the caller’s emergency is immediately addressed, while being treated with respect and compassion. The community receives that same high level of service when our deputies arrive at the scene. I am very proud of these three and my entire staff.”