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Two Warsaw police officers were honored by city council Monday for their role in capturing four suspected armed bank robbers on New Year's Eve.
Patrolman Joe Hawn and Cpl. Eric Coburn received commendations for what Police Chief Craig Allebach called "exemplary service" in a high-risk situation.
"The vehicle they stopped was not the one used in the robbery, ... which makes the case even more exemplary," Allebach said.
Hawn and Coburn were responsible for stopping and arresting four Fort Wayne men who reportedly robbed a Lake City Bank branch in Columbia City on Dec. 31. They chased the suspects in their cars until finally pinning the suspects' car between the two squad cars. Loaded firearms were later found in the suspects' car.
"Thank you. The city owes you a debt of gratitude," Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said to the two officers.
Hawn and Coburn received plaques and commendation bars they will wear on their uniforms.
Warsaw Police Department matters continued to take center stage with the council Monday as Allebach made a presentation on funding the department received through grants for new computer equipment.
The department's latest project, which involves installing mobile computers in police cars, will cost more than $150,000 for hardware and software, Allebach said.
However, because of grants the department obtained from federal and state governments, the city will spend only slightly more than $5,000 for the equipment.
Allebach was prepared for questions from the council, but because he provided each council member with full documentation on each grant received and on the amount of matching funds needed for the grant, there were no questions.
In other business, the council accepted the resignation of Mark Sanders from the city's Board of Zoning Appeals and approved Alan Clingan as Sanders' replacement.
Mac Silveus was elected council president for 1998.
Warsaw's city council meets in the council chambers at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.
