Palos Hills Officers Receive Medals of Valor for Kenneth Conley Arrest

A credited with capturing a man who authorities say escaped from a Chicago high-rise prison were recognized for their efforts Thursday.

Lt. Warren Becker, Sgt. Robert Mankowske and Officer Kevin Price each received medals and plaques before a Palos Hill City Council meeting.

The three veteran officers were responsible for arresting Kenneth Conley on Jan. 4. Conley had been on the lam after he and Joseph “Jose” Banks had climbed out of a window of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in December using a rope made of bed sheets, according to authorities.

Conley has since pleaded not guilty to escaping from prison, Huffington Post reports.

"We all know what the service of the men and women of the Palos Hills Police Department do for our citizens," said Mayor Gerald Bennett during Thursday's ceremony.

Bennett praised for the officers for their quick response in stopping the fugitive and awarded them Medals of Valor for their efforts.

"He (Conley) may have escaped the MCC downtown ... but he didn't escape Palos Hills," Bennett said.

Officers had been called by maintenance workers at a Palos Hills apartment building to investigate a suspicious person. Becker was the first person to approach Conley, who had disguised himself as an elderly man when he was stopped on the street.

Becker was injured during a struggle with Conley. He remains off duty with a torn hamstring.

Conley, who was arrested carrying a BB gun, managed to get away from Becker and tried to break into a nearby residence, where other officers caught him.

Patch Stories About the Hunt for the Escaped Convicts:

• FBI: Prison Escapee Caught in Chicago; Cellmate Still at Large
• Fugitive Manhunt: FBI Posts $50K Reward for Info on Convicts
• Landlord: Mother Turned Away Escaped Convict at Front Door
• Scenes From a Manhunt (Photo Gallery)
• Fugitive Search Disrupts Funeral at Nearby Church
• Orland Park Police Investigating False Bank Robbery Report