First-year police officer Gary Lisewski named Pontiac Officer of the Year for 2023
A good police officer goes about his business properly and with respect to himself, to his fellow officers and, most importantly, to the public he is serving. It's something that Gary Lisewski has done since joining the Pontiac Police Department.
Lisewski's character and work ethic have earned him the title of Pontiac Police Officer of the Year for 2023.
It's the first time in the department's history that the award has gone to a first-year officer.
“He is an extremely valuable asset,” Chief Dan Davis said. “He's very energetic and motivates other officers regardless of tenure. ... We are very fortunate to have Officer Lisewski transfer to our department.”
Lisewski has only been with the department a short time, Davis said, but he has quickly earned the respect of his peers and the community.
“I can't stress how happy we are to have him show interest in coming to our department,” Davis said. “He's a very valuable asset to our patrol division. We hope he stays for a very long time.”
A privilege to serve
Lisewski is a graduate of Woodland High School (where he played football and ran track) and got into law enforcement a few years later when he was hired as a corrections officer at the Livingston County Jail. A long-time friend of his, Jonathan Hayes, recommended the job opportunity to Lisewski.
Lisewski took another step in 2020 when he was hired as a police officer with the Fairbury Police Department, where he was a patrolman. He was there just a couple of years before getting on at Pontiac.
Being a patrol officer means that Lisewski is often the first on the scene of an accident or emergency call. He said that traffic stops are a personal favorite. He made more than 400 in 2023.
“There's a certain thrill to it,” Lisewski said. “You're starting your own little investigation with every stop.”
He added that his concern is looking for drugs or people driving under the influence — things that can cause problems in the community.
In April of last year, Lisewski responded to a call at Wally's where he performed CPR on an individual. He was aided by Livingston County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Donovan.
“Being a police officer is a privilege,” Lisewski said. “Everyone in this city relies on you to be at your best at all times. That's what I try to do."
Making the community safer
Lisewski has a new responsibility that begins in March. He has joined a group of fellow officers as a field training officer. This entails helping new officers fresh out of the academy or who are new to the department.
“It comes with a level of responsibility,” Lisewski said. “You're making sure someone is putting the correct foot forward in law enforcement.”
He will also be attending a narcotics investigator class in the near future. He said that narcotics is a big issue in the Pontiac area. He wants to be able to help guide people in getting off drugs.
As far as being recognized by his peers, Lisewski said, “It's not what I would ask for. It's not why I got in this career. ... I joined to help others and make sure the community is a safer place."
He thanked the department's leaders and his fellow officers.
“I would like to offer my appreciation to my command staff and my peers,” he said. “It's not just one-man game here. They provided me with the opportunities of doing things and being successful.”
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac names Gary Lisewski Officer of the Year for 2023
