JERSEY: Be Like Blake Award winners share National Police Week experiences

By Steven Spencer

Local law enforcement officers who received this year’s Mustache March 4PD’s Be Blake Award recently returned from National Police Week in Washington, D.C. and reunited to share their experiences Saturday morning at the Wood River Police Department.

This year 11 officers made the trip to Washington to honor and remember fallen officers and support their surviving friends and family members.

Each year chiefs from the different police departments select one of their officers who they believe shares the same commitment and love for their community that Blake Snyder held. The officers selected then get to make the trip for National Police Week thanks to the help of funds raised by Mustache March 4PD and their sponsors.

Wes Strowmatt, MM4PD Secretary, friend of Snyder and trip organizer, said the Be Like Blake Award is meant to not just recognize an officer for their ability to do the job well. It recognizes them for their love and commitment beyond the badge to the communities they call home.

“The point of the Be Like Blake Award is to recognize the cops that do a good job at work but also at home in the community. They’re more than just the show up, arrest the bad guy and go home type. These are the guys that are good humans,” Strowmatt said. “You model Blake. You all are spitting images of him. You might not look like him but you all model him well. It’s greatly appreciated.”

Tina Bennett, MM4PD Vice President, said they’ve been able to help send officers on the trip for a few years and it’s been amazing to hear them share their experiences at National Police Week.

“We did this last year,” Bennett said. “It was amazing and so we decided we wanted to do it again this year.”

This year Sgt. Danny Green with the Jerseyville Police Department, Deputy Caleb Gibson with the Jersey County Sheriff, Officer Allen Averbeck with the Alton Police Department, Deputy Matthew Werner with the Madison County Sheriff, Lt. Christian Cranmer with the East Alton Police Department, Officer Ryan Dugger with the Bethalto Police Department, Officer Brendan Wright with the Wood River Police Department, Officer Ian Parnell with the Roxana Police Department, Ret. Chief Will Cunningham with the Roxana Police Department, Officer Dustin Campbell with the Pontoon Beach Police Department and Deputy Matt Werner with the Madison County Sheriff were all selected as the 2025 Be Like Blake Award recipients.

Officers each year have described the trip as an eye-opening, humbling, and all-around incredible yet emotional experience.

Sgt. Green said for him one of the most emotional aspects of the trip was the K-9 memorial, having a K-9 which was funded through MM4PD, and the words that kept coming to mind throughout the trip were “I can’t believe.”

“Years ago when this organization started it was ‘I can’t believe there is an organization doing this for us,’” he said. “The trip itself, the number of times I said ‘I can’t believe.’ It started at the airport. There’s people in uniform everywhere saluting us. Full honor guard when you get off the airplane. ‘I can’t believe these guys are here doing this.’ We walk out to get picked up for the motorcade and there’s people everywhere carrying luggage and making sure everything gets done, and in my head I’m going ‘I can’t believe this many people are doing this.’”

From Wes’s efforts to help escort the officers on the trip, to bagpipe players performing in a downpour during the candlelight vigil, Green said the words that just kept coming to mind were “I can’t believe.”

“Every person on that trip would do all the things I said I can’t believe if we had an opportunity,” Green said. “I’m so lucky to be in a profession that’s full of people that would do that, and it’s full of people in the community that support us and choose to do that.’

Officer Abby Klunk, said although she wasn’t sponsored by the MM4PD it was great to attend with the group while going to honor and remember a friend. She said although it can be very difficult making the trip when a loved one is being remembered and honored, it’s also very fulfilling.

“It was really really hard. I told everybody it sucked,” Klunk said. “But it was also amazing to see how they’re honored every year. The wall, the candlelight vigil, everything they do for these officers that have lost their lives. It was really hard but also really fulfilling.”

Deputy Gibson was unable to attend Saturday’s event but shared a few notes about his experience which Strowmatt read.

“Police Week meant more to me than I ever expected. Being in Washington, D.C. for the events was both an honor and a deeply humbling experience. Among all the moments that stood out, the candlelight vigil was especially powerful. Even with the rain, a reminder of the true weight of the sacrifices made by so many. Standing in silence surrounded by others who came to remember and reflect. I felt a profound sense of unity, respect and gratitude. It’s something that I will carry with me forever,” Gibson’s letter read.

The MM4PD committee encouraged the officers to share the experience with other officers and to continue serving their communities in meaningful and impactful ways while being like Blake and keeping his legacy alive.

“We hope you know how much we appreciate you and your service to the community. We’re always here. If you ever need anything. We’re always here,” Bennett said. “My hope is that you go back to your departments and share those experiences with them.”

More information on Mustache March 4 PD and their efforts to help local law enforcement agencies can be found online at www.mustachemarch4pd.com.