Calumet City Officer of 22 Years Dies On Duty
Calumet City Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush and Police Chief Christopher Fletcher, together with the city administration and the entire Calumet City Police Department, are deeply saddened that Police Officer Adam Zieminski, 49, of Dolton, Badge #190 died while on duty early this morning.
“A highly decorated officer who proudly served our community for 22 years,” Mayor Michelle said Monday. Zieminski was transporting a detainee to the Markham courthouse when he suffered a medical emergency, police told RNS. The detainee alerted nearby Cook County Sheriff’s officers, who quickly responded but were unable to revive Officer Zieminski.
During his 22 years on the Department, he was twice honored with the department’s Lifesaving Award and also named Officer Of The Year. He served in several roles with the department, including as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Evidence Technician, Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force officer and member of the department’s Tactical Unit.
He received several commendations in May 2014, when he was hailed as a hero after saving a six-month-old baby from a burning building. Without hesitation, Officer Zieminski rushed into a burning building after hearing a mother scream that her baby was still inside. He ran in, crawled to a bed where the baby laid and rushed the infant out the door to safety. Though Officer Zieminski suffered smoke inhalation, the baby made a full recovery.
His heroism was again recognized just a year later, when he was responding to a call but then notified by a resident that a man was being attacked by several large dogs. At considerable risk to his own personal safety, Officer Zieminski confronted the dogs after other attempts to have them disperse were unsuccessful. He discharged his weapon at the attacking dogs and the victim was treated for injuries that could have proved life-threatening if not for his intervention. As a result of those and other actions, he was named the department’s 2015 Officer Of The Year.
In recognition of his actions in the line of duty, Officer Zieminski has received other honors from the Calumet City Mayor and City Council, Governor of the State of Illinois, surrounding police agencies, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8141, Calumet City Lions Club and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, among others.
He was also known for his commitment to giving back to the community, volunteering his time to deliver Christmas presents to Calumet City families as part of the department’s Santa Toy Run. He would often bring his own children with him who would also volunteer their time to bring joy to those less fortunate.
Officer Zieminski began his law enforcement career in 1997 with the Burnham Police Department before joining Calumet City in 1999. He came from a law enforcement family, as his father and uncle were both Chicago Police officers. In addition, his brother retired from the Calumet City Police Department and his nephew is currently a Calumet City Police Officer.
He was a graduate of Thornton Fractional North High School, and is survived by his two daughters.
Video Link of Procession Overnight
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