On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, Sheriff Nick Petitgout and Deputy Cody Lovell received the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Lifesaving Award. The Spoon River Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 427 presented the honor during their fall meeting. Both officers are members of Lodge 427.
The award recognized their quick action on March 24, 2025, when they rescued a local man trapped in frigid water after his boat capsized.
At 2:11 p.m. that day, McDonough County Central Dispatch received a 911 call from Nancy Hinderliter. Her husband, Clay Hinderliter, had fallen into their pond while trying to place a floating platform. Clay was clinging to the platform but could not climb onto it or reach his boat. He was not wearing a personal flotation device.
Clay had been in the water about 15 minutes when Nancy went looking for him. She didn’t know how long he had been submerged but said he was responsive and had called for help. The Hinderliters live about five miles from Macomb, and the water temperature was in the upper 30s Fahrenheit.
Cold water immersion is extremely dangerous. The body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in air. Sudden immersion causes a shock that makes it hard to breathe and quickly weakens muscles and senses. Clay was at risk of rapid hypothermia and drowning.
Sheriff Petitgout and Deputy Lovell responded immediately. Sheriff Petitgout arrived first, well ahead of other responders. Without hesitation, he entered the freezing water, swam to Clay, secured him and the platform, and began towing him to shore. Deputy Lovell soon arrived and helped with the rescue.
Once on shore, the officers and local rescue personnel helped Clay into his home, removed his wet clothes, and warmed him.
Days later, Clay Hinderliter recalled the ordeal. He estimated he was in the water 10 to 15 minutes before Nancy found him. He called the situation life-threatening and credited his wife, Sheriff Petitgout, and Deputy Lovell for saving his life.
He shared his account: “In the spring of this year, when temperatures were in the 55–60 F, but water temps were in the 40 F, I was working on a goose nesting box, in my pond, which is about 20 feet deep. I was using an old, somewhat leaky boat. I did not have a PFD. I also did not have a designated safety person watching this activity from the shore. I should also mention that I am not a particularly good swimmer, even in the best of conditions. In short, I was suffering from the common human condition - ‘nothing bad could/will happen to me.’
Lo and Behold - the boat sank - quickly, I might add.
Hitting 40 F water was an instant physical and emotional shock. Whatever swimming skills I had simply disappeared. I was fortunate enough to grab onto the goose box. I spent the next 10-15 minutes, hanging around the goose box, trying to figure out how I was going to get out of this mess. Fortunately, my wife came out to check on me - she was even more shocked than I was. She screamed ‘What do I do?’ I screamed ‘Call the Fire Department.’
Sometime later, I heard the sirens - still a long way off - but clearly coming. Then I heard a car screeching to a halt and foot traffic coming my way. I heard a splash, felt someone touch my shoulder and a voice asked ‘Are you OK?’ I turned to answer and saw it was Nick Petitgout next to me. From that point he and Cody Lovell got me back to shore. They handed me off to my wife and the EMTs.
Thank God for Marines and police officers that can swim!”
- Clay and Nancy Hinderliter
