Officer of the Year Awards

by | Feb 8, 2020

Join the Omaha Police Foundation as we honor the bravery and dedication of the men and women of the Omaha Police Department.

The 26th annual Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon will take place on Thursday, May 7th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine Street, Omaha, 68106. This year, the Foundation is proud to have Dana Bradford serving as Honorary Chair of the 2026 Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon.

The OPF will honor dozens of officers for their outstanding work in our community with awards including the Medal of Valor, Police Blue Shield Medal, Lifesaving Medal and Distinguished Service Medal. The 2025 Officer of the Year will be selected from among the honorees and one exceptional unit from within the Omaha Police Department will be recognized with the McGowan Community Impact Award named for one of the OPF’s founding members and dedicated community advocate Thomas F. McGowan.

In addition, one high school senior and one full-time undergraduate student who are the children or grandchildren of a current or former sworn officer will be presented with the annual Dr. Jack K. Lewis Memorial Scholarship.

Tickets for the 2026 Luncheon are available for $100 each, a table of 10 for $1,000 or a Patron Table of 10 for $1,750. The OPF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, and a portion of the ticket cost will be tax deductible under the guidelines of the IRS.

2024 Officers of the Year

Officer Aaron Dice
2024 Officer of the Year
Sergeant Ryan Carrera
2024 Officer of the Year
Officer Joshua Moore
2024 Officer of the Year
Officer John Dlouhy
2024 Officer of the Year
In late April 2025, a tornado hit parts of Elkhorn. These officers responded to a call that a resident was trapped in her home. Roads were blocked by debris, so officers approached the scene on foot. The caller’s home was completely leveled. Sergeant Carrera and Officer Dlouhy entered the rubble to assist the Omaha Fire Department in rescuing the woman. Officer Diminico assisted the Omaha Fire Department at another home in rescuing a person in a wheelchair. Officer Dice learned that two residents had reentered their damaged and unstable home to search for pets. He got the residents to safety and found the two dogs.
Officers continued to search through the debris field for trapped or injured residents. They entered homes, uncertain of their structural integrity, in their search for additional victims. For exhibiting extreme bravery and the utmost in professionalism in a dangerous situation, Sergeant Ryan Carerra, Officer Aaron Dice, Officer Brian Diminico and Officer John Dlouhy were awarded the esteemed Police Blue Shield Medal and were honored as the 2024 Omaha Police Foundation’s Officers of the Year.
2023 Officer of the Year – Officers Nicholas Lanning and Joshua Moore

2022 Officer of the Year – Officers Corey Buckley and William Klug

2021 Officer of the Year – Officer Brandon Fender

2020 Officer of the Year – Officers Robert Seitzer & Robert Soldo

2019 Officer of the Year – Officer Jason Messerschmidt

2018 Officer of the Year – Sergeant Brent Kendall

2017 Officer of the Year – Sergeant Stefan Davis

2016 Officer of the Year – Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen

2015 Officer of the Year – Detective Kerrie Orozco

2014 Officer of the Year – Sophia Jordan