MANITOWOC CO. (NBC 26) -- Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office announced the recipients of Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Corrections Officer of the Year for 2019.
Deputy Christopher Hemauer, a 10 year veteran, was named the county's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from having demonstrated outstanding service to the community and his fellow officers.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Hemauer was originally hired as a Reserve Deputy in Dec. 2010. He was then promoted to Deputy Sheriff in Feb. 2012. Deputy Hemauer was selected as a K9 Handler where he teamed up with K9 Leon in Aug. 2016.
Deputy Hemauer says he serves as an instructor for OWI/Standard Field Sobriety Testing, Vehicle Contacts, and Emergency Vehicle Operations and Control (also known as EVOC).
In Hemauer's spare time, he serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Criminal Justice Program at the Lakeshore Technical College assisting and teaching future law enforcement officers.
Officer Timothy Kluenker was named the county's Corrections Officer of the Year due to his quick thinking and reaction on several occasions.
The Sheriff's Office says they hired Kluenker in 2017. He completed the Jail Academy at Fox Valley Technical College shortly thereafter.
Corrections Officer (CO) Kluenker was presented a lifesaving award by Sandi Lehman of Advanced Corrections Health for his heroic actions in helping save a life.
According to the Sheriff's Office, CO Kluenker and several others responded to an unconscious inmate with no pulse at the Manitowoc Co. Jail. He and the others worked together to give CPR and administer Naloxone before EMS arrived. Because of their quick response, the inmate regained a pulse, began to breathe on their own, and gained consciousness.
CO Kluenker is a CPR instructor, a field training officer, and certified pepperball launcher/armorer. He volunteers as a firefighter with the Branch Fire Department and currently hold the rank of Lieutenant.
In Kluenker's spare time, he enjoys watching sports, hiking, and kayaking.
The Manitowoc Co. Sheriff's Office says a recognition ceremony and plaque presentation for both these men will be scheduled at a later date due to COVID-19.
