Recognizing exceptional courage, sacrifice and service, Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux honored recipients of the Police Shield, Chief’s Awards, Life Saving and more; Officer of the Year and Professional Staff Employee of the Year announced; Police Cross presented in memory of Officer Gabriel Bixby
Dallas, Texas -- From working weeks without a day off during the FIFA World Cup to exposing a multistate dogfighting ring and answering nearly 100,000 emergency calls, 334 Dallas Police Department officers and professional staff members were honored Nov. 12 at the 45th annual Friends of the Dallas Police Awards Banquet. Presented by NexPoint Philanthropies, the event at the Hyatt Regency Dallas drew more than 700 guests.
The top two honorees, revealed at the program’s close, were Senior Corporal Jasmine-Corey Simpson of the Homeless Outreach Team, who was named John T. McCarthy Officer of the Year, and Community Outreach Representative Kimberly Nam of Patrol Alpha Bureau, who received the James C. Taylor Professional Staff Employee of the Year Award.
“Every officer and professional staff member recognized gives far more than any job description asks,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux. “Their families share that commitment, and this community stands with the entire DPD family. It is a privilege to serve alongside people who devote so much to this city.”
Chief Comeaux, who presented awards throughout the evening, was joined by Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Chief of Public Safety Dominique Artis, Fire Chief Justin Ball, Dallas City Council members and other community leaders.
The evening’s most solemn moment was the Police Cross, presented in memory of Officer Gabriel Alexander Bixby of the Northeast Patrol Division. A seven-year DPD veteran, Officer Bixby was fatally struck on Jan. 7, 2025, while riding his motorcycle to work after answering a call to come in early. His wife, Annmarie, accepted the award.
The program opened with the Dallas Police Honor Guard and Dallas Metro Police Pipes & Drums presenting the colors, the Dallas Police Choir performing the National Anthem and Dallas Police Chaplain Bob Penberthy delivering the invocation. NBC 5’s Candace Sweat and Vince Sims served as emcees.
Most recipients were chosen from supervisor nominations reviewed by the Meritorious Conduct Board.
The Marvin R. Bullard Supervisor of the Year Award went to two individuals – the Sworn Supervisor Award was given to Sergeant Pablo Rojas of the South Central Crime Response Team, Patrol Bravo Bureau, and the Professional Staff Supervisor Award was given to Supervisor Michael Papania of Operational Technology, Office of the Chief of Police Bureau.
The James R. Leavelle Detective of the Year Award was presented to Senior Corporal Elizabeth DeAngelis of the Sexual Assaults Unit, Investigations Bureau, and the Field Training Officer of the Year went to Senior Corporal Bryan Crenshaw of the Southeast Patrol Division. The Telecommunicator of the Year Award went to 911 Call Analyst III Mayra Paniagua, and the Johnny Sides Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Officer Michael Rosales Zavala of the Northwest Patrol Division. The Joe C. Jones Reserve Officer of the Year Award was given to Reserve Officer Paul Jez of the Patrol Alpha Bureau.
Police Shield Awards, given when an officer or other uniformed employee suffers serious injuries while performing their duties, went to Officer Kayla Jones, Senior Corporal Peter Stewart and Nathaniel White, a police recruit severely injured in 1989.
Meritorious Conduct Unit Awards went to the RIGHT Care Unit, Southeast CRT/Deployment Days Unit, Traffic Division and the Wellness Unit. Additionally, the Friends of the Dallas Police gave Meritorious Conduct Awards to 14 officers, Police Commendation Awards to 25 officers and employees and Life Saving Awards to 63 officers.
The Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Salim Asrawi, founder of Texas de Brazil, and the Corporate Partner of the Year Award went to QuikTrip, accepted by Community Affairs Coordinator James Lollis. The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented posthumously to Sylvia Collins, who gave more than 700 hours to DPD initiatives and died in the Oak Cliff apartment explosion in May.
Personally selected by Chief Comeaux, the Chief’s Unit Award went to the Homeless Outreach Team and Chief’s Awards were presented to Manager Beatriz Peña Alvarez of Personnel Operations, Administrative Bureau, and Sergeant Adam Reinhart of the Operational Technology Unit.
Fourteen bureau Officers of the Year were finalists for the John T. McCarthy Officer of the Year Award. They were Senior Corporal David Davis Jr. (Administrative Bureau); Officer Michael Henderson (Financial & Contract Management Bureau); Officer Aaron Graham (Investigations Bureau); Senior Corporal Jasmine-Corey Simpson (Office of the Chief of Police Bureau); Senior Corporal Marisa Levine (North Central Patrol Division); Officer Micheal Waldroup (Northeast Patrol Division); Senior Corporal Peter Stewart (Northwest Patrol Division); Officer Paul Smith (Southeast Patrol Division); Officer Jacob Forman (Central Business District Patrol Division); Officer Todd Pillsbury (Central Patrol Division); Senior Corporal Aaron Varden (South Central Patrol Division); Officer Jonathan Anderson (Southwest Patrol Division); Senior Corporal Courtney Moore (Professional Standards Bureau); and Senior Corporal Steven Moore Jr. (Tactical & Special Operations Bureau).
Seven bureau Professional Staff Employees of the Year were finalists for the James C. Taylor Professional Staff Employee of the Year Award. They were Personnel Services Support Specialist Michelle Flores (Administrative Bureau); Operations Research Analyst Sabrina Johnson (Financial & Contract Management Bureau); Investigative Support Specialist Darlene Jones (Investigations Bureau); Administrative Specialist II Jessica Sanchez (Office of the Chief of Police Bureau); Community Outreach Representative Kimberly Nam (Patrol Alpha Bureau); Crime Technician Karla Bradford (Patrol Bravo Bureau); and Administrative Specialist II Kelli Lewis (Support Bureau).
The 2026 Anita Ruiz Family Foundation Educational Scholarship Awards provided two $5,000 scholarships to Leilani Rodriguez, daughter of Officer Luis Cardenas of the Central Business District, Patrol Bravo Bureau, and Mavin Tyler II, son of Lieutenant Mavin Tyler of the Basic Academy, Professional Standards Bureau.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor NexPoint Philanthropies, Chief Sponsors are The Anita Ruiz Family Foundation; Lisa and Kenny Troutt; and QuikTrip. Lieutenant Sponsors are Central Market; Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and The Men and Women of Hunt Consolidated Inc.; Hillwood, a Perot Company; and The Alinda Hill Wikert Foundation. Sergeant Sponsors are Perot Jain; Freeman Auto Group; Sam Pack’s Five Star Family of Dealerships; Ellen McStay; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; and Sewell Automotive Companies.
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 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, go to friendsofthedallaspolice.org.
