The two offers were named Officers of the Year for 2017.
Dennis Clair and John Hanejko were named 8th Police District Officers of the Year for 2017 at a recent event sponsored by the 8th Police District Advisory Council at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. Clair and Hanejko were nominated by Sgt. John Venit. They made more than 20 arrests in 2017.
Last August and September, they adjusted their schedules to try to solve a series of home burglaries. After developing leads and patterns, they were working plainclothes and doing surveillance on Sept. 14 when they responded to a burglary report on the 3800 block of Alberta Drive. They obtained a description of the burglar from a resident.
At 1:50 a.m. on Sept. 15, they saw a man running from a garage on the 3900 block of Fairdale Road. They stopped him on Ronald Drive, and he was later identified as 34-year-old Jason Hilbert. He was arrested and charged with more than 15 burglaries in Philadelphia and Bucks and Montgomery counties.
Venit wrote, “The above arrest is just one of many exemplary arrests that Officer Clair and Officer Hanejko have been involved in. The dedication to duty and absolute professionalism exhibited by these officers is a credit to the Philadelphia Police Department and especially the 8th District.”
Other honorees were:
• Squad Recognition Award: Officers James Boccalupo, Edward Schoffler and John McQuiggan.
• 20-Year Recognition: Sgt. Francis De Treux and officers Michael Gereaghty, Jerome Jackson, Patricia Muldrew, Rufus Ragland and Elgin Rogers.
• Perfect Attendance 2017: Lts. John Boyle and Edward Monaghan, Capt. Adam Friedman, Cpls. James Goodchild and Daniel Pfeiffer, Sgt. William McNamee and officers Joseph Pawko, Elgin Rogers (and Captain’s Award), Patricia Rosati, Robert Sweeney and Joseph Tigue.
• School Crossing Guard: Patricia Rich.
• 2017 Merchants of the Year Awards: Nathan Hoffman, logistics VP, Frankford Candy, 9300 Ashton Road; Chris Gheysens, President/CEO, Wawa; and William Ciabattoni, Azalea Gardens Landscaping, 8050 Fairview Road. ••
