2022 Officer of the Year

While on patrol near 109th and J Streets in the very early morning hours, the officers were approached by civilians. It was reported to them that a nearby convenience store was being robbed. The officers soon located the suspect vehicle fleeing at high speed on O Street and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle slowed, making it appear they intended to comply. Instead, a backseat passenger fired five rounds at the officers. “Shots fired” was announced on the police radio and a 20-mile pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended when the vehicle went off-road in a rural part of Sarpy County near Springfield. The officers established a perimeter and called for backup. When sufficient resources arrived, the suspects were located and all four were taken into custody.

For their professional handling of a dangerous situation that resulted in four violent suspects being taken off the streets, Officer Corey Buckley and Officer William Klug have been awarded the Police Blue Shield Medal and recognized as the 2022 Omaha Police Foundation’s Officers of the Year.