Rochester police officers honored - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- Citizens and members of the Rochester Police Department were honored at an awards ceremony Wednesday.

Three private citizens, a police dispatcher, and 14 police officers and sergeants received awards or letters or recognition.

A department commendation award was given to three officers who helped apprehend a person accused of a series of vicious sexual assaults that began in September.

Officers were also honored for solving five armed robberies that took place over the past year, connecting with and talking down distressed people, and performing life saving CPR -- among many other things.

In total 10 people received life saving awards, two received letters of recognition and six received commendation awards.

Lars Hottel and Dayna Thelemann received the Citizen Lifesaving Award.

Officer Travis Riggot, Sgt. Steve Thompson, Officer Pat Kelly, Sgt. Jeff Thelemann, Officer Daniel Sherburne, Officer Andrew Gagnon, Officer Ben Schlag and Sgt. Tony Teal received Department Lifesaving Awards.

Officer Teresa Frissora and Officer James Kenison received Department Letters of Recognition.

Michelle Diaz received a Citizen Commendation Award.

Dispatcher Brooke Markham, Officer Tony Jacobson, Officer Eric Boynton, Officer Brent Peterson, and Officer Lisa Weber received Department Commendation Awards.