Urbana Police Officer Awarded Certificate Of Merit

Urbana police officer Nate Hills has received the Certificate of Merit for his work last June identifying a registered sex offender with five children at a public park.

The officer says he was doing a routine patrol through Crystal Lake Park, when he ran a license plate of a vehicle belonging to 55-year old Duane Eric Edwards, who is a registered sex offender.

Hills noticed Edwards had 5 young children in the vehicle, and intervened immediately, leading to the arrest of Edwards and the safe removal of the children.

According to Hills, the special recognition came as a surprise. "It’s good, you know it’s unexpected. I'm just out there doing my job, and to be recognized for doing my job… means a lot.”

Hills is one of twenty-six people being recognized at the Urbana Police Deparrtment awards ceremony. Seven recipients were civilians.

In addition to awards, 44-year veteran John Lockard announced he will be retiring from the Urbana Police Department.

Lockard worked for the department as a sergeant as well as an evidence custodian.