Mount Vernon police honor top officers

The Mount Vernon Police Department honored is best from 2025 during a banquet recently at the Woodward Opera House.

MVPD chief Robert Morgan reported Tuesday at the mayor’s news conference they recognized two as Officer of the Year – Tim Arnold and Andreas Cotter.

Three individuals were recognized with a Life Saving Award — Matthew McDonald, Jaqulyin Nauman and Josh Perry.

“The Life Saving Award is a new award for us. One stemmed out of a house fire, where officers removed an individual from a house and started emergency care on him prior to the squad getting there,” Morgan said. “Another was a car wreck involving a motorcycle where someone had some pretty bad bleeding and the officer applied a tourniquet to his leg and it was instrumental in keeping him from bleeding out.”

Morgan also reported that the police responded to just two accidents, both minor, during the winter storm that struck Knox County last week. He thanked residents for following the Level 3 snow emergency that was put into place and staying off the roads.

He also reminded residents who live on snow emergency streets not to park their cars on the street when more than 3 inches of snow falls. That allows road crews better access to plowing the streets.

City Inspector Scott Zimmerman also commented on the winter storm, thanking the crews, both city and residential, who plowed streets and parking areas around the city. He also reminded residents and business owners that it is their responsibility to clear sidewalks in front of their homes or businesses.

Zimmerman also noted his department is looking to work with city council to clean up the language in the ordinance involving the parking of campers, trailers and boats in the city.

Mount Vernon Fire Chief Chad Christopher reported his department responded to 574 emergency runs during January. He also said they finished 2025 with 6,204 calls, which has been right around the norm for the past several years.

Christopher also said the new medic is expected to arrive around March. The vehicle has been delayed a few times, but he is hopeful they will receive it soon.