Recognizing those who transcend the call of duty, Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux presented Medal of Valor, Officer of the Year, Professional Staff Employee of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Chief’s Awards, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year and more
Dallas – The 44th annual Friends of the Dallas Police Awards Banquet paid tribute to 235 extraordinary officers and professional staff members of the Dallas Police Department Nov. 17 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. With more than 800 guests in attendance, the event was presented by Nexpoint Philanthropies and organized by the Friends of the Dallas Police.
The top two honorees were Police Officer Joe King of the Wellness Unit, who was named John T. McCarthy Police Officer of the Year, as well as Caseworker I Jacqueline Laymance of the Vice, Tactical & Special Operations Bureau who received the James C. Taylor Professional Staff Employee of the Year Award.
“It is an honor to stand alongside the Friends of the Dallas Police Department in recognizing and presenting these awards to the outstanding men and women of the Dallas Police Department,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux. “Tonight, we don’t just recognize their work, we also recognize their honor, their courage, their families’ support and their unwavering commitment to keeping Dallas safe. I’m deeply proud to lead a department built on such heart, integrity and devotion to our community.”
Rounding out his first six months at DPD’s helm, Chief Comeaux personally congratulated each award recipient. Joining him were Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas Chief of Public Safety Dominique Artis, Dallas Fire Chief Justin Ball, Dallas City councilmembers and other community leaders.
The Dallas Police Honor Guard and Dallas Metro Police Pipes & Drums presented the colors, the Dallas Police Choir performed the National Anthem, and Dallas Police Chaplain Dale Vick, Chief of Chaplains for the Texas State Guard, delivered the invocation. Candace Sweat, veteran reporter for NBC 5 (whose mother served with DPD for 25 years), served as the master of ceremonies.
Major awards plus Chief’s Awards presented this year
While many awardees knew they were award recipients prior to the ceremony, the top awards were revealed during the ceremony. Recipients were chosen from nominations submitted by DPD supervisors to the Meritorious Conduct Board based on overall yearly performance.
The Marvin R. Bullard Supervisor of the Year Award went to two individuals – the Sworn Supervisor Award was given to Sergeant Jeffrey Beezley of the Central Business District – Bike Unit, and the Professional Staff Supervisor Award went to Sandra Sadduk of Focused Deterrence, Tactical & Special Operations Bureau.
The James R. Leavelle Detective of the Year was presented to Senior Corporal Guy Curtis of the Crimes Against Persons, Investigations Bureau, and the Field Training Officer of the Year went to Senior Corporal Horace Webb of the North Central Patrol Division. The Telecommunicator of the Year Award went to 911 Call Analyst III Susaye Ringgold, and the Johnny Sides Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Police Officer Jonathan Baum of the Southwest Patrol Division. The Joe C. Jones Reserve Officer of the Year Award was given to Reserve Officer Sidney Whitley of the Patrol Alpha Bureau.
Nine officers received Medal of Valor Awards including Senior Corporal Corie Reed, Officer Nathaniel Baker, Officer David Lem, Officer Richard Pace, Officer Vladimir Perez, Officer Joel Portillo, Officer Zachary Anderson, Officer Jacob Forman and Officer Derek Williams.
Meritorious Conduct Unit Awards were presented to five units -- the Crimes Against Children Unit – Internet Crimes; Crimes Against Children Unit – High Risk Victims Squad; Crime Scene Response; Foxtrot 760s; and the Recruiting Unit. The Friends of the Dallas Police also bestowed Meritorious Conduct Awards to four officers, Police Commendation Awards to 35 officers and Life Saving Awards to 42 officers.
The Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Mehrdad Moayedi, and the Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Cathy Norris. Additionally, Chief Comeaux presented the Chief’s Unit Award to the Recruiting Unit, as well as Chief’s Awards to Sergeant James Peeler, Jr. and Martin Riojas, Jr., assistant director, Police Administration.
Eleven officers were nominated as bureau honorees for the John T. McCarthy Dallas Police Officer of the Year. They were Officer Joe King (Office of the Chief of Police Bureau Officer of the Year), Senior Corporal Philip Sterle III (Administrative Bureau Officer of the Year); Senior Corporal Nathaniel Chapman (Northwest Patrol Division Officer of the Year); Senior Corporal Steven Papas (South Central Patrol Division Officer of the Year); Officer Anthony Newsom (Investigations Bureau Officer of the Year); Officer Kenneth Wester (Support Bureau Officer of the Year); Officer Daniel Kessenich (Tactical & Special Operations Bureau Officer of the Year); Officer George Morales (Central Business District Patrol Division Officer of the Year); Officer Mark Streeter (North Central Patrol Division Officer of the Year); Officer Casey Tharp (Northeast Patrol Division Officer of the Year); and Officer Kage Hendrix (Southeast Patrol Division Officer of the Year).
Nine professional staff employees were nominated as bureau honorees for the James C. Taylor Professional Staff Employee of the Year Award. They were Psychologist Dr. Cary Conaway (Administrative Bureau Professional Staff Employee of the Year), Investigative Support Specialist Liticha Webb (Investigations Bureau Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Community Outreach Representative Denise Moreno (Office of the Chief of Police Bureau Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Administrative Specialist I Lynda Cox-Gutierrez (Support Bureau Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Caseworker I Jacqueline Laymance (Tactical & Special Operations Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Public Service Officer Rosa Rodriguez (Central Business District Patrol Division Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Fleet Coordinator Josselyn Cruz Quintanilla (North Central Patrol Division Professional Staff Employee of the Year); Public Service Officer Veronica Chacon (Northeast Patrol Division Professional Staff Employee of the Year); and Investigative Support Specialist Michelle Campos (Southeast Patrol Division Professional Staff Employee of the Year).
The 2025 Anita Ruiz Family Foundation Educational Scholarship Awards, given to the child of a DPD employee for college tuition, provided $5,000 scholarships to two deserving students. The first recipient was Omar Laura, son of Officer Brandon Roberson assigned to DPD’s Mounted Unit in the Tactical and Special Operations Bureau. The second recipient was Lauren Rodriguez, daughter of longtime DPD officers Sergeant Gregory Rodriguez and Senior Corporal Shemika Rodriguez.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor Nexpoint Philanthropies, Captain Sponsors are Lisa and Kenny Troutt; Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and The Men and Women of Hunt Consolidated Inc.; Sam Pack’s Auto Group; QuikTrip; The Anita Ruiz Family Foundation and The Alinda Hill Wikert Foundation. Lieutenant Sponsors are Central Market; CS-Fabrication; Freeman Auto Group; Perot Jain; Hillwood; Baylor Scott & White Health; Ellen McStay; Sewell Automotive Companies; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; and Vista Del Lago Apartments.
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS POLICE. Founded in 1982 by a group of Dallas business leaders, the Friends of the Dallas Police Awards event recognizes the DPD employees for outstanding performance in the line of duty and raises money to celebrate those employees who risk their lives every day to make Dallas a safer city. The Friends organization believes that no matter their position within the department, each of DPD’s employees has made a commitment to better the city and the quality of life of its citizens. For more information about the Friends of the Dallas Police, go to friendsofthedallaspolice.org.
