ALTON - The Alton Police Department has named Lt. Emily Hejna its Officer of the Month for May 2026 after officials said she helped peacefully resolve a mental health crisis on May 26, 2026, in Downtown Alton.
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According to the department, officers responded that day to a report of a man experiencing a mental health crisis while possibly armed with a handgun outside a downtown business. The department said the situation was tense and unpredictable and required patience, sound judgment and a calm approach.
Hejna established communication with the man by phone and spent about 30 minutes building trust and offering hope, the department said. Through what the department described as compassion and crisis intervention skills, Hejna encouraged him to focus on his family and future and ultimately guided him to peacefully exit his vehicle.
The man was taken into protective custody without injury, and a handgun was secured, according to the department. Hejna then ensured he received mental health care, the department said.
“The Alton Police Department is proud to recognize Lieutenant Emily Hejna as our Officer of the Month for May 2026 for her exceptional leadership, compassion, and crisis intervention during a critical incident,” the department said in its announcement.
The department said Hejna’s actions “exemplify the very best of the Alton Police Department.”
“Because of Lieutenant Hejna’s professionalism, empathy, and unwavering commitment to preserving life, a situation that could have ended in tragedy instead concluded peacefully,” the department said.
