Grayslake Police Officers Recognized for Years of Service

If your children have gone through Grayslake's DARE (Drug Awareness and Resistance Education) program, they probably know Officer Rita Stang.

"Everybody in town knows Rita as the DARE officer," said Police Chief Phil Perlini, who commended Stang for building such a "rock-solid program" over the years.
 
Twenty years, to be exact.

Stang was among four Grayslake Police Department employees to be recognized at Tuesday's village board meeting for their years of service. Sgt. Tom Zurick and Officers William Frawley and Joseph Manges have each been with the department for 15 years, while Stang has been there for 20.

"I'm just very pleased to have been abel to spend this time in Grayslake because it's my hometown, so that makes it special," said Stang.

Zurick joined the Grayslake Police Department in 1998 and was promoted to sergeant in 2006, Perlini said. Zurich runs the bicycle unit and largely works the midnight shift. He also participates in programs like Shop with a Cop. Perlini added that outside of the department, Zurick coaches baseball.

Frawley was an officer in Hebron for a year "and then he saw the light and came to Grayslake," said Perlini. Frawley is also part of the bicycle unit, and he is a firearms instructor.

Manges joined the Grayslake Police Department in June 1998. He's a member of the Major Traffic Crash Unit, which consists of several Lake County towns. The officers who are part of the unit investigate major accidents, Perlini said. Manges is also a member of the bike unit.

"You may have seen him in a parade or two, peddling around on the bike," said Perlini.