Law enforcement awards

Bill Lentz was named the Sturgis Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2011.

The award was presented during Wednesday’s Sturgis City Commission meeting.

Lentz was recognized by Public Safety Director David Northrup for his dedication to the department and his job. Northrup said Lentz has undertaken major cases in 2011 that yielded prosecution, including a criminal sexual conduct incident.

Northrup said the department also gave a Citizen Citation to Sturgis resident Bryan Stadick for his contribution to the arrests of three people who had been involved in a number of vehicle break-ins last year.

Stadick caught the three breaking into his vehicle and followed them to a Sturgis business, where he called police and the arrests were made.

The trio was found to be responsible for nearly two dozen previous break-ins.