Police Officer of the Year—Peter Hamrick

At the Club’s lunch meeting on March 6, 2008, the Arlington Heights Police Department presented the 2007 L.W. Calderwood Officer of the Year award to Officer Peter Hamrick.

Officer Hamrick graduated from Arlington High School in 1982, and later from Harper Community College with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts. In 1986 he joined the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer and served for four years, assigned to Fort McClellan, Alabama and Fort Ritchie, Maryland. In 1991, Pete was hired by the Island Lake Police Department as a Police Officer and served with the department for five years.

Officer Hamrick joined the Arlington Heights Police Department in 1996, and was assigned to Criminal Investigation in 1998. His years of continuous and progressive experience include Juvenile Officer and Police Counselor. He is a member of the Police Department's Bicycle Unit, a member of the Police Department's Honor Guard participating in parades and other events, and serves as an Instructor to the Citizen Police Academy focusing on Criminal Investigation and Juvenile Law.

Outside the Police Department, Pete participates in many running events including the Chicago Marathon and the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. He started the 'Shop with a Cop' holiday program with the help of FOP Lodge 80. Pete and his wife Jennifer have been married for over 20 years and live in Arlington Heights. They have two sons, Colin, 15 years old and Brennan 11 years old.

The Calderwood Officer of the Year award is named for Lowell William Calderwood, who was appointed Chief of Police in Arlington Heights in 1958. Bill was responsible for reorganizing the department, was a motivating factor in the creation of a new police facility and through innovation and insight created a police department infrastructure which placed the organization on the leading edge of law enforcement in the northwest suburbs. Among Bill's many civic activities, he was a member of the Arlington Noon Rotary club.