The Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group, comprised of many police departments, received a “significant award” for recently disrupting nine drug trafficking organizations and making over 50 arrests.
Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg announced Wednesday that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) was awarded the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area’s (HIDTA) ‘2024 Initiative of the Year’ award.
Idleburg, Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jacob Novak — SIG’s Commander, and Sheriff’s Sergeant Matthew Harmon — SIG’s Assistant Commander, received the recognition on Tuesday on behalf of the SIG in Chicago.
The award was presented at a ceremony by Chicago HIDTA’s Executive Board.
The Lake County SIG was selected from all of the Chicago HIDTA initiatives for recently disrupting or dismantling nine drug trafficking organizations, making over 50 arrests, seizing nearly 200 illegally possessed firearms and seizing significant quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs.
“To say I am proud of not only my staff assigned to SIG, as well as our local and federal partners assigned, is an understatement. This team of proactive professionals works extremely hard to identify and arrest drug traffickers, gun traffickers, human traffickers, and some of the most violent offenders in society. They are doing incredible work to keep Lake County safe and I am very grateful for the recognition from HIDTA’s Executive Board,” Idleburg said.
Nicholas Roti, Executive Director of Chicago HIDTA, congratulated the Lake County SIG on being awarded and said the group has “continuously displayed high level investigative proficiently resulting in numerous successful investigations all aimed at keeping the neighborhoods and residents of Lake County, Illinois safe.”
Lake County was awarded the HIDTA designation in 2020, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
“At that time, SIG showed its ability to disrupt and dismantle organized crime, conduct long-term investigations focused on drug trafficking leading to arrests and convictions, and partner with municipal as well as federal agencies to combat drug trafficking. Since obtaining the HIDTA designation, SIG has been able to accomplish far more with HIDTA’s support,” Covelli said.
HIDTA operates under the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The program provides federal support to law enforcement agencies in designated counties with coordination, equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug production and trafficking.
“Working alongside our local, state and federal partners has proven to be a force multiplier when it comes to investigating firearm and drug trafficking,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division.
“ATF is committed to the law enforcement partnerships with the Lake County Special Investigations Group, and I commend the Lake County Sheriff and his staff for their leadership,” Amon said.
The partner agencies involved in SIG include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Highland Park Police Department, Park City Police Department, Round Lake Police Department, Round Lake Beach Police Department, Round Lake Park Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, Waukegan Police Department, Winthrop Harbor Police Department and Zion Police Department.