Morris police officers honored for role in conviction

MORRIS – More than a dozen Morris police officers were recognized at Monday's city council meeting for their role in an attempted murder case in August of 2018.

"This case had multiple crime scenes, an offender on the loose who was armed ... it took all of the officers to come to an arrest and, ultimately, to a conviction at a trial," Morris Police Chief John Severson said.

The case was that of Eric Bartels of Bellevue, Washington, convicted last month of attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery after holding a female against her will and stabbing her in the Morris Shell parking lot as she attempted to escape.

Those recognized included: Officers Richard Cheskie, Alex Tourlakes, Scott Evans, Curt Kneller, Derek Zumbahlen, Ben Zwolinski, Michael Bober, Paul Burke, Mark Vanderploeg, Anthony Puleo, Caleb Mitchell, Sgt. Steve Huettemann, Deputy Chief Chad Skelton, Detective Sgt. Alicia Steffes, Sgt. Monty Allbert, and Sgt. Ben Wiechen.

Vanderploeg was also recognized as Officer of the Year.