FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – Fairview Heights Police Officer Molly Muennich, who was injured during a May 2025 incident and later underwent emergency surgery, has been named the 2026 Women in Criminal Justice Female Officer of the Year by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
The Fairview Heights Police Department praised Muennich in a statement, calling her “One of the toughest and best!” and adding, “We are so proud of this officer.”
The ILETSB Executive Institute also announced the recognition, saying, “We are proud to recognize Molly Muennich of the Fairview Heights Police Department as the 2026 Women in Criminal Justice – Female Officer of the Year Award recipient. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!”
Muennich was one of three Fairview Heights officers shot during an incident on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Police officers responded to a call about a suspicious person on May 17, 2025, and the incident turned violent. Officer Muennick was shot in the face and underwent emergency surgery after the call, and was in a hospital for multiple days to recover.
Fairview Heights Officer Herminio Raimundi was shot in the arm, and Officer Andrew Ward was shot in the chest but was protected by a bulletproof vest in the incident.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board is a state agency mandated to promote and maintain a high level of professional standards for police.
