Latest news with #OfficeroftheYear
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
St. Paul police name detective, officer, employee of the year
St. Paul's police chief on Thursday named a homicide investigator as Detective of the Year and a patrol officer who regularly recovers firearms and large amounts of drugs as Officer of the Year. Sgt. Jennifer O'Donnell, a St. Paul officer of more than 30 years who works in the homicide/robbery unit, was the primary investigator on 156 homicides, robberies and aggravated assaults last year and assisted on more, according to her commendation. She was the primary investigator in the fatal shooting of Nicholas Sletten, 42, in the North End in October. Murder charges were filed in January. 'This was a complex investigation that required ongoing intensive work,' said O'Donnell's commendation, which described her and her colleagues as working 'tirelessly' on the case. Chief Axel Henry named Abdirahman Dahir as 2024 Officer of the Year. He grew up in St. Paul, became a Police Explorer at age 14, and later a St. Paul parking enforcement officer before he joined the department's police academy in 2021. A patrol officer in the Western District, Dahir recovered 22 handguns, of which 3 were stolen and one a 'ghost gun,' and several thousand fentanyl pills during 18 stops last year that were either traffic or investigative, his commendation said, adding that last year 'was not an anomaly.' Dahir recovered 30 handguns the year before. Richard Bertholf, who works in the police Video Management Unit, was recognized as Professional Employee of the Year. When Andre L. Mitchell, 26, was shot and killed while two children were in his backseat in November, Bertholf 'immediately responded to multiple urgent requests to gather nearby video that may have captured the shooting,' his commendation said. He found videos that showed four people shooting at Mitchell and two suspect vehicles, and gathered information about suspects. Four people have been charged in Mitchell's murder. Don't pay for traffic tickets over text: DPS warns of scam messages Who's in charge? CDC's leadership 'crisis' apparent amid new COVID-19 vaccine guidance DOC commissioner asks for patience from Stillwater prison families, dismisses idea of reopening Appleton prison Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the US 40 St. Paul street lights stripped of copper wiring, though reports are down overall
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cherokee County officers celebrated for outstanding service
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — Cherokee County law enforcement are recognized for the services they provide to their respective communities. The annual Cherokee County Law Enforcement Awards Banquet took place Thursday night (5/15) at Bethel Church in Baxter Springs. Agencies represented were Columbus, Galena, Baxter Springs, and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. The event, which includes dinner and the awards ceremony, allows each agency to recognize those who go above and beyond the call of duty. Sheriff Brian Henderson made this an annual event in 2023, when he was chief of police in Baxter Springs. 'It's not just administration picking somebody, it's their peers that are selecting them and saying, 'hey, this person deserves it.' And that's important to us,' said Sheriff Henderson. 'You look back at your accomplishments and just to know that you're your friends that you work with every day have recognized your efforts that you're out there doing, because a lot of times, that stuff goes unnoticed, and so it's a good opportunity for them to see that they're appreciated,' said Galena Police Chief, Chad Allison. Each agency gave out various awards Thursday. Those included Officer of the Year, Deputy of the Year, and a life-saving award. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Montgomery named Law Officer of the Year
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—LIMA — Lima Police Investigator Aaron Montgomery said it felt like a big thank you to be named the Lima Exchange Club's Jack Somerville Law Officer of the Year on Wednesday afternoon. The club recognized Montgomery for his work on multiple task forces and for recently helping to save an unconscious elderly woman at Bowling Green State University's graduation ceremony. "The limelight is an enjoyable thing, and I appreciate it because it means a lot to me, but I almost don't want it on me," Montgomery said. "We're a family of law enforcement and my children, wife, mom and dad have endured a lot for the last 17 years including long shifts." The club also held a remembrance ceremony in which LPD Chief James Baker shared a message encouraging the audience to remember the past. "Remembering your past is foundational to your future," Baker said. "Sometimes when you get into the day-to-day, you forget. You ask why you stood before a judge and take an oath toward your life, and it's good to remember." Montgomery took Baker's words to heart, reflecting on his time in law enforcement. "It was something I was always intrigued by, along with the physical and mental aspects," he said. "I've always enjoyed that I can carry on a conversation with anybody. I've always had the ability to be involved with different walks of life." Montgomery is a graduate of Bluffton High School and Rhodes State College and has served with LPD since 2008. A certified K9 trainer, Montgomery has also served on the SWAT team, the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force and as a field training officer. The Exchange Club also accepted a nomination from Allen County Sheriff's Deputy Damian Tibbs. Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399. Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Labette College students finish community service projects
PARSONS, Kan. — Students at Labette Community College use a classroom assignment to make an impact on the world. Each semester, students in Tanya Neisis' public relations class are assigned service learning projects to complete. These can cover a wide range of topics, like the food pantry at the college. The idea is to give students real world experience they can use on a resume while helping connect them to the community. Labette College students finish community service projects Arbor Day in the Four States highlights importance of trees Parsons man gets suspended sentence for role in 2024 convenience store robbery Southeast Kansas law enforcement named 'Officer of the Year' for the second time Southeast Kansas nursing home catches fire, residents evacuated Students are responsible for strategic planning, event promotions and interacting with the media. And it helps if it is a project they connect with. 'We didn't have so much in our student pantry, and after my project, they were, like, 'wow, T, there's a lot in there for us,' because some people come from homes where parents can't afford food, and so our community here, for me to be able to help them, it was really a big thing,' said Tanihya Porter, LCC Sophomore. 'If I can get students to see the importance of education and civic engagement, and civic responsibility, and I feel like service learning is the way to do that,' said Tanya Neisis, LCC Communcation Professor. This is the 16th year for the service learning projects at LCC. One of this year's other projects: the Erie Special Olympics. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Geneva honors police
GENEVA — Members of the Geneva Police Department were honored on Monday evening during a city council meeting. Michael Smith, who joined the department in 2022, was named Officer of the Year and commended for his work making traffic stops in the city, Geneva Police Chief John Camper said. He said Smith also received the Ashtabula County Safe Communities Officer of the Year, as well. Brittany Brantley received the Dispatcher of the Year award, and was honored for her work in communicating information to other departments. Lynn Gersper was honored as part-time Officer of the Year. She has been on the department since 1975, Hamper said. He commended all the members of the department. 'You guys have been very easy to work with,' he said. Hamper discussed his hopes that the canine unit will be up and running by August, with Smith as the potential canine handler. City Councilman Jeff Griffiths asked Hamper to provide a full budget for the proposed program. Geneva City Manager Joseph Varckette said the details of the program are still being decided, and council will have a chance to approve the program before it is finalized. Camper said he believes a canine unit is needed in the city. He said many city residents have asked him about a canine unit, which was discussed as a possible addition to the city during a 2019 levy campaign that passed by four votes. Camper said the department is 'more or less' at full staff, but still struggling to keep employees. He said the department will soon need a radio system update, new Tasers and body cameras.
