The Vermilion Police Department held its annual Awards Banquet for 2025 on Feb. 6, 2026, recognizing officers and dispatchers for outstanding performance over the past year.
Mayor Russ Owens attended and issued two proclamations during the event. The first recognized Cpl. Brian Beckwith and Ofc. Marissa Demuth for saving a life during a choking emergency using the Heimlich maneuver. The second proclamation recognized the families of VPD officers and dispatchers for the daily support they provide.
The banquet was again planned and hosted by the congregation of Harbourtown Community Foursquare Church, which the department thanked for its continued generosity.
Det. Sgt. Scott Holmes, who has been selected as the department’s next police chief, told Vermilion Daily in a phone interview that the banquet is a long-running tradition meant to highlight the positive work officers do throughout the year.
“It’s important for us to recognize the officers for the good work they do throughout the year,” Holmes said.
Holmes said the awards banquet began about 10 years ago and later moved to Harbourtown after the church offered to host and organize the ceremony. Multiple officers attend the church, and the department’s former police chaplain, who has since retired, is a member. The church has hosted the event for roughly the past five years and provides a catered dinner.
The department’s top annual honors went to Cpl. Brian Beckwith as Officer of the Year, Disp. Mike Frisky as Dispatcher of the Year, Ofc. Marissa Demuth as Part-Time Officer of the Year and Disp. Brooke Jenkins as Part-Time Dispatcher of the Year. Awards of Merit were presented to Ofc. Ben Sargent and Ofc. Ben Chrapczynski, and Narcan Life Saving Awards went to Sgt. Steve Kopniske and Ofc. Dylon Wood.
VPD thanked Mayor Owens for his support of the department and also expressed appreciation to Harbourtown Community Foursquare Church for once again hosting and organizing the banquet.
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