Ottawa Police PBPA Unit #18

06/03/2026

🔥🏃‍♂️ LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN 2026 🏃‍♀️🔥

Mark your calendars! 📅

Join the Ottawa Police Department and LaSalle County Sheriff's Office as we carry the Flame of Hope in support of Special Olympics Illinois!

📍 Start: Ottawa Township High School
🏁 Finish: LaSalle County Downtown Courthouse
📅 Wednesday, June 10, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM

This annual event brings law enforcement officers and community members together to support athletes with intellectual disabilities and raise awareness for the incredible work of Special Olympics Illinois.

Whether you run, walk, cheer from the sidelines, or simply help spread the word, your support makes a difference! 💙💛

05/25/2026

🎓 Congratulations to Garrett Keith! 🏆

The family of Officer Brian Sember is proud to announce that Garrett Keith, a graduating senior at La Salle-Peru High School, has been selected as this year's recipient of the Officer Brian Sember Memorial Scholarship!

Garrett plans to first attend Illinois Valley Community College to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice — with the ultimate goal of becoming a police officer.

In his application essay, Garrett captured the spirit of this scholarship beautifully: "What most people don't realize is the ability to change the community and world into a better place by being a police officer."

The Officer Brian Sember Memorial Scholarship is awarded to local individuals pursuing a career in law enforcement who embody the honesty, integrity, and humanity that defined Officer Sember's life and service. This year's $250 scholarship is funded through memorial donations from the Sember family and matched by the Ottawa PB&PA for a total of $500.

Officer Brian "Sembo" Sember was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served the Ottawa Police Department for 23 years before his passing in 2022. Known for his larger-than-life personality, loyal friendship, and the belief that "Everyone is human," his legacy lives on through recipients like Garrett.

We wish Garrett all the best on his journey 👏🚔

05/07/2026

We’re incredibly proud to continue our support for Run Today for Tomorrow—an inspiring organization driven by purpose and a deep commitment to making a meaningful impact in our local community.

Thank you Ottawa PBPA for your Gold Sponsorship. We appreciate all you do and your support for su***de prevention and mental health resources in our community. 💛💛

04/03/2026

Not only did Winner$ Gaming host an evening of remembrance for the friends and family of Brian Sember, but they also made a generous donation to the Officer Brian L. Sember Scholarship Fund.

It’s through gestures like these that his memory continues to live on and make a difference in the lives of others.

Thank you, Winner$ Gaming, for your continued support!

03/31/2026

📣 Reminder: The deadline for the Officer Sember Memorial Scholarship is coming up soon!

Applications are due by April 10th, so be sure to submit yours before time runs out.

This scholarship, created by Officer Sember’s son, Brady, honors his father’s legacy of service. It’s a meaningful opportunity to carry forward the spirit of dedication and community that Officer Sember embodied.

Don’t miss your chance to apply — please share this with anyone who may be eligible or interested. 💙

03/25/2026

💙 We’ve got something AMAZING for drivers with autism 💙

The Ottawa Police Department is proud to introduce the Blue Envelope Program — in partnership with The Autism Hero Project a new initiative designed to foster safer, more positive interactions between law enforcement and individuals on the autism spectrum.

Participants can use the envelope to:

✔️ Store copies of their driver’s license and vehicle documents (registration & proof of insurance)
✔️ Identify communication preferences or accommodations
✔️ Provide contact information for a designated support person

While the Blue Envelope was specifically designed to assist motorists during traffic stops, it can be presented during any interaction with an Ottawa Police Officer to enhance communication and understanding.

This program reflects our continued commitment to inclusive, community-centered policing.

📍 Blue Envelopes are available FREE at the following location, at this time:

✔️Ottawa Police Department Lobby-301 W. Lafayette Street

For more information on this amazing program please join us April 1, 2026 for Autism Awareness: Friendly Faces, Safe Spaces event at Reddick Reddick Public Library District at 5:30pm. Our friends at Ottawa Fire Department will be joining us!!

Any questions please contact: Detective Landeros.

Because every interaction matters — and understanding starts with blue

03/12/2026

Join us for Autism Acceptance: Friendly Faces, Safe Spaces on April 1, 2026 from 5:30–7:30 PM at Reddick Library! This welcoming community event gives families the chance to meet local law enforcement, explore fun activity stations, and access sensory supports in a calm, inclusive environment. This is a safe, respectful space with no expectations and no forced interaction—every family is welcome exactly as they are. 💙

03/05/2026

💙 Calling All Future Law Enforcement Professionals!

The Ottawa Police Benevolent proudly honors the legacy of Officer Sember through a scholarship for those pursuing a career in law enforcement.

If you’re 18 years old or a graduating high school senior with a home address within 25 miles of Ottawa, IL, we encourage you to apply for the Officer Sember Memorial Scholarship.

📅 Deadline: April 10, 2026

This is a meaningful opportunity to support your goals, strengthen our community, and carry forward Officer Sember’s spirit of service.

📋 See the attached application for full details and qualification requirements.

01/05/2026

Thrilled to share that our Holiday Program shone bright this year—complete success! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to our incredible supporters whose generosity brought magic to so many.

12/18/2025

Thank you to the employees at IDOT for your contribution to our December holiday event! They were gracious enough to pool money among themselves and present us with a generous donation. We’re thankful for our community partners who help keep programs like ours alive!