The North Aurora Lion’s Club has named Ryan McKinness as 2011 North Aurora police officer of the year. 

The award was made at the recent Lion's Club awards dinner at the Lincoln Inn, in Batavia. On hand in the audience were members of the police and fire departments’ command staffs, Lion’s Club members, and the nominees and their families.

Last Sept. 20 at approximately 5:35 p.m., Officer McKiness was dispatched to a vehicle crash vs. tree on Pinehill Court in which the driver was found unconscious and not breathing. Some citizens were performing CPR.
McKiness took over CPR until paramedics arrived. The patient was treated with a defibrillator and this put the patient’s heart back into rhythm.
McKiness was awarded the Life Saving Medal for his actions in this incident and the citizens and a dispatcher were awarded Citizen Commendations.
McKiness has been a member of the North Aurora Police Department for 10 years and is currently assigned to evening shift patrol.
Officers Michael Quinn and Randy Voss were also nominated for the award.
Supervisors of the three officers shared details of the incidents for which they were nominated and Chief of Police David Summer offered his thoughts on public safety personnel.
“When the men and women in this room suit up for duty, there is no guarantee they will come home at the end of their shift,” he said.
On May 10, 2011 at approximately 10:48 p.m., Quinn was dispatched to Randall and Orchard Roads for an accident with injuries which involved two passenger vehicles and a motorcycle.
Upon arrival, he observed a black Ford Focus was on fire, grabbed the fire extinguisher from the trunk, and ran towards the vehicle that was on fire.
He saw the victim was trapped in the vehicle and attempted to open the driver's side door, but it was jammed. Then he moved to the passenger's side and that door was jammed too. Then he broke out the window, and pulled the victim through the window. After getting the victim through the window, he moved him safely away from the vehicle which was still on fire. Quinn then ran back to the vehicle and was able to extinguish the fire.
Quinn was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service for his actions in this incident. He has been a member of the North Aurora Police Department for 5 years and is currently assigned to midnight shift patrol.
On July 11, 2011 at approximately 8:23 a.m., Voss was dispatched to a report of a tree down on power lines on Spruce Street.
Upon arrival, he noticed smoke coming from a home and a tree limb had fallen and caused a power line to fall onto a fence. The fence was conducting electricity to the home.
A supervisor arrived a short time later and noted smoke pouring out from the front door of the residence.
Voss then exited the house with an elderly female, who was feisty and appeared that she did not want to leave the residence.
Voss was able to remove her from harms way (and dog too).
There were black burn marks all over the house and it appeared that electricity surged through the fence and melted the siding and gutters in several places.
Voss was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Service for his actions in this incident.
He has been a member of the North Aurora Police Department for 20 years and is currently assigned to dayshift patrol.
“I commend the North Aurora Lion’s Club for taking the time to recognize these local heroes,” Chief Summer said. “It is a pleasure to be part of this event and I could not be more proud of all the nominated officers.”
The North Aurora Lion’s Club has awarded the Police Officer of the Year annually since 2005.
Nominations are submitted by police supervisors and sent to the Lion’s Club, which determines the winner.