Cortland Officer Named Illinois Officer Of The Year

CORTLAND — A Cortland police officer has been named the 2026 Officer of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police for his investigative work in a child exploitation case that led to multiple arrests across several states. Officer Robert Harris with the Cortland Police Department began the investigation after a citizen complaint in Cortland and developed leads that uncovered a broader network involved in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Authorities say the investigation expanded into several jurisdictions and resulted in multiple arrests. Police say the case required extensive investigative work and cooperation among several law enforcement agencies. Cortland Police Chief Lin Dargis said Harris’ work turned a local complaint into a multi state investigation and credited his persistence and attention to detail for helping protect vulnerable victims.