2021 Officer of the Year

In March 2021, Officer Brandon Fender was dispatched to a check-well-being call. A woman who suffers from mental illness was, according to family members, off her medications. Due to seeing things and hearing voices, she had climbed 15 feet into a 50-foot tree. She continued climbing higher because she wanted to get onto the roof of an adjacent building. Officer Fender established a rapport with the victim. He climbed an Omaha Fire Department aerial ladder with a belt and harness. Aware of the risk that the victim would panic and hurt both, Officer Fender kept communication going. The woman remained calm, and he was able to get the belt and harness secured and lower her to safety.

For his actions in professionally and compassionately dealing with someone in a mental health crisis and thereby saving a life that day, Officer Brandon Fender was awarded the Police Lifesaving Medal and named as the 2021 Omaha Police Foundation’s Officer of the Year.