A Sherrard Volunteer Fire Fighter/EMR was presented with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Back the Blue Award. On Tuesday evening, November 15, Spoon River Valley Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 427 presented Donovan Swartz with the award. Swartz was in his work truck on the morning of April 29, 2022 and observed Knox County Deputy Nick Weist get struck by a fleeing felon. Swartz immediately stopped his truck, ran to the scene, and began emergency first aid to Deputy Weist and did so until additional police officers arrived. Swartz remained on the scene instructing police officers on first aid protocol. Swartz started his volunteer fire service with Sherrard Fire Department at the age of 14 in Sherrard’s Fire Cadet program.
