Officer of the Year Awards
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 the Purple Heart. The 2023 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 Foundation’s recently renamed McGowan Community Impact Award. Thomas F. McGowan was a founding member of the Omaha Police Foundation and served in a range of capacities including vice president before his passing in 2023. Tom was committed to community, serving on numerous boards in addition to the OPF, including the Completely KIDS Advisory Board, Omaha Community Foundation, Methodist Hospital Foundation Board and as a Fontenelle Forest Honorary Trustee.
Tickets for the 2024 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.
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2022 Officers of the Year
Officer William Klug – 2022 Officer of the Year
Officer Cory Buckley – 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.
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