DeKalb, IL: The DeKalb County Veteran Organization ’40 & 8′ has acknowledged that DeKalb Police Officer Allison Remnes has been awarded the State of Illinois Law Officer of the Year for 2023.
Officer Remnes is a DeKalb School Resource Officer. Officer Remnes provides free food to the students with limited finances at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School. Part of her good conduct strategy is to offer coupons in the Cherries & Berries school store. She also gives out free winter gear like coats and snow pants, that are collected from her friends, neighbors, and family. She also has a little library in her office and allows the students to take select books whenever they want.
Officer Remnes has been called on by school administrators to suggest discipline programs in the district. Several of her school buildings also have students with some behavioral challenges and the school has recruited her to help them with these issues. She meets with the student and their building administration to develop any personalized goals for their behavior. If the student meets or exceeds their goal, she buys them lunch (out of her own money) and comes to eat with them at school. If a student does exceptionally well, she offers the student the opportunity to pick a restaurant and order off the menu.
Officer Remnes tried something new at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary this past school year called Officer Allie’s Golden Donut. When school staff sees a student do something above and beyond, like showing exceptional kindness, they can nominate the student for the ‘golden donut’. She had a real trophy made this year with a golden donut on top. On a select morning, she present it to the entire class and tell them who won the award for their class. They keep the donut trophy for the whole week, then takes it back to be presented to a new class the following Monday. She keeps a tally and the classroom with the most ‘golden donut’ awards wins will get a class donut party from her at the end of the school year, complete with decorations and party favors.
She is also part of the behavior incentives at several DeKalb school buildings. Students can earn unique currency, each school calls it something different, at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary it is called “Cat Cash.” They can use it to buy items from a school store. At some of the other buildings, students have been able to buy a pizza party with Officer Remnes and one (1) friend of their choosing, or an ice cream treat, or a special sweet treat.
“Officer Allison Remnes represents the elite of our caring law enforcement officers”, stated DeKalb Chief David Byrd. “Not just doing their job, but giving back to families and DeKalb citizens is a special credo of all our officers.”
Officer Remnes was nominated by local veteran and ’40&8′ member Michael Embrey. She received a letter of endorsement from DeKalb Police Commander Steve Lakkas.
“We are extremely excited to have a nomination with the high standards as Officer Allison Remnew”, commented Wallace ‘Wally’ Hammond, Chair of the Illinois 40&8 Award Program. “Our nomination for 2022 went on to receive the National Law Officer of the Year award.”DeKalb Police Officer Allison Remnes has been invited to attend the 40&8 Illinois State Convention in Bloomington, Illinois, on August 19 to receive the State of Illinois Law Officer of the Year for 2023 award.The Forty and Eight (40&8) is an independent organization of veterans of the United States armed forces. Its official name is “La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux,” which is French, and translates as “The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses.” The organization started after World War I to honor the many French Nurses that saved so many soldiers’ lives. Membership is by invitation and open to all Honorably Discharged Veterans and all Military Personnel currently serving our country, per a recent change to Article IV of la Societe’s constitution. Combat service is not required for membership.
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