Peru honors Bureau County teenagers for saving a woman’s life Jan. 25

Adam Odell, Logan Arkels and Brandon Stopka saved a woman’s life Jan. 25, 2022, in Peru.

The three high schoolers were on their way to Kewanee to watch a Princeton Tigers basketball game when they passed her on the ledge of the Route 251 bridge over Interstate 80 and phoned 9-1-1.

Several motorists passed the woman, but Odell, Arkels and Stopka called for help and waited for police to arrive.

For their efforts, the Peru Police Department started the Odell-Arkels-Stopka citizenship award named after the trio, honoring them Monday in front of the Peru City Council.

“This award was created following the exemplary citizenship shown by Odell, Arkels and Stopka,” said Deputy Chief Sarah Raymond. “These three individuals undoubtedly saved the life of a fellow citizen. They displayed effort, citizenship, attention, involvement, and deep concern for humanity, particularly the life of another.”

Raymond said the award was designed so the trio’s efforts would not go unnoticed, and to encourage fellow citizens to display similar selfless acts.

“This was a surprise,” said Odell, who is from Dover in Bureau County.

“We didn’t expect anyone to notice, or recognize it like this,” said Stopka, of Princeton.

The three teenagers said the situation was scary and they were worried about the woman, but they remained at the scene to give dispatchers updates of the situation.

A plaque will be hung in the Peru Police Department lobby honoring citizens who display similar acts of citizenship, Raymond said. The Peru City Council gave a standing ovation for the three teenagers, awarded them medals and shook their hands.

The trio agreed it was a nice gesture by Peru to name an award after them.

“It’s kind of crazy that it will be around forever,” said Arkels, of Princeton.

Raymond said the police received two calls on this incident, the other call was from a citizen to report the vehicle being left on the bridge.

“During this time of the evening, there were numerous vehicles traveling in that area and the female was visibly scene,” Raymond said. “In today’s climate, private citizens don’t feel it necessary to get in to people’s private lives or business.”

The deputy chief said the woman was hysterical when police arrived.

“She was ultimately brought back from the ledge extremely grateful for the efforts of all and later received the help she so desperately needed,” Raymond said. “In my nearly 18 years of law enforcement experience I find it rare for three teenage young men to express such care and concern for a stranger when they could have driven by like so many other people did that night.”

Raymond said she’s hopeful she will present future awards to other citizens who display exemplary actions.