MOUNT VERNON — Mt. Vernon Mayor John Lewis presented the 2023 Officer of the Year Award during Monday night’s city council meeting.

Officer Tyler Norris was named Officer of the Year after being nominated for the award by his shift commanders, Captain Travis Chapman and Sgt Bruce McDonald.

The shift commanders cited Officer Norris’s continuing drive to become a better officer by seeking training and his excellent performance on the job.

It was noted Officer Norris has the knowledge and demeanor of an officer with many more years of experience than he currently has. In addition to his normal patrol duties, Officer Norris serves as a field training officer, a member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) tactical team, and a member of the High-Risk Team.

Each January, shift commanders from the department nominate officers they believe are deserving of being named officer of the year.

After the nominations, a meeting is held where supporting documents are reviewed, and a vote is held for who receives the award.

Three other officers were nominated this year but did not receive the award. Those officers are Officer Remington Paris, Officer Zachary Jines, and Officer Brylan Morlan.