Police Officers Honored as Lifesavers

Des Plaines police officers who saved a local man in March were honored at last night’s City Council meeting, and aldermen approved a plan that will reallocate grant money for improvements at Apache Park.

Sgts. Carol Dougherty, Louis Wittmer, Ronny Smith, and Acting Sgt. Chet Zaprzalka were honored with the police department’s Life Saving Award.  In a team effort, the four officers revived Jim Mocbeichel, 72, in the department’s parking lot in central Des Plaines on March 26.

Mocbeichel, along with family members, was at the meeting to thank the officers who saved him.

Mocbeichel recalled coming out of the Shop ‘n Save grocery store in Des Plaines’ Metropolitan Square that day with an armload of groceries. After telling his wife his legs hurt, she offered to pull the car up to the storefront, but he insisted on walking to the car.  The last thing he remembers is getting in the car.

Mochbeichel’s wife Karen said her husband was unresponsive in the car, and the closest place she could think to go was the police station. 

“All the ducks were in a row and there was a miracle here,” Karen said of the incident.

She said she wished more could be done to celebrate the officers who saved her husband’s life.

Zaprzalka, one of the officers who received an award, said that he was glad the incident had a good outcome and was honored to be there.

In other news, council members approved a plan to reallocate money in the city’s Community Development Block Grant. 

In the past, funds from this grant program have been used to help with emergency home repairs and lead paint inspections in low-income neighborhoods. All the money from the grant is designated for use in low-income areas.  In 2008 and 2009, more than 20 households received assistance, but requests this year have been low, said Chan Yu, associate planner for Des Plaines.

City officials agreed to designate some of the grant money to fund repairs and improvements at Apache Park, located west of Lee Street and south of Howard Avenue.  About $93,000 will go toward the project.

While specific plans have not been laid out, John Hecker, executive director of the Des Plaines Park District, wrote a proposal to city officials that added lighting and benches to the basketball courts and baseball fields.

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide free and easy access to recreational facilities, Yu said.

City Council members will also likely approve a permit to allow a local business owner to open an auto body shop in the 1100 block of Lee Street. 

The owner submitted a similar proposal about a year ago but was turned down because of the surrounding parking lot's condition. Aldermen applauded the business owner’s efforts in cleaning up the land, but expressed concerns about the condition of the pavement.

Many council members said they hoped that the lot would be repaved within a year or two, and the permit would allow the owner to go forward with his plan, but with limitations.