A K9 officer with the Galesburg Police Department is the 2023 Galesburg Area Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year.
Officer Jake Taylor received the award during a ceremony Tuesday at Galesburg City Hall. He has been with the GPD since 2017.
In 2019, Officer Taylor was selected to be a canine handler for the Galesburg Police Department with his K9 Partner “Zeus.”
Taylor led his platoon in arrests and was second in traffic stops in 2023.
Officer Taylor made a consensual encounter in February 2023 with a subject who was involved with trafficking illicit bulk US Currency. Taylor seized approximately $173,985 from the subject who was traveling across country.
Officer Taylor also received a blue max award in October 2023 for stopping a vehicle and recognizing the citizen was having a medical problem and possibly ended up saving the subject’s life from his efforts and awareness.
A nominating officer said, “Officer Taylor plays a significant role at the Galesburg Police Department and always makes himself available whenever we need him. Officer Taylor is a leader on Platoon B and assists the new officers. Officer Taylor has shown great dedication for pursuing the criminal element.”
Taylor also serves as a member of the District 205 Board of Education.
