Omaha Police Foundation Honors Officers, Announces 2016 Officer of the Year

The Omaha Police Foundation (www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org) presented its 17th annual Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon on April 20th at the Scott Conference Center. Twenty-seven officers and two units were recognized for their outstanding work in the prior year. Awards presented during the event were Chief of Police Letter of Commendation, Police Ribbon of Unit Excellence, Police Ribbon of Excellence, Police Lifesaving Medal, and, the Department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor. For the first time, a Community Impact Award was also presented.

Omaha Police Foundation - Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen

Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen

Medal of Valor recipient Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen was selected from among the honorees as the 2016 Officer of the Year. In December of 2015, Goering-Jensen and Officer Anthony Abboud reported a house fire while on a call and then responded to assist. Upon arrival, Goering-Jensen was advised that several people were still inside the home. He entered the burning house three times until everyone was rescued. For his actions in saving three lives that day, Goering-Jensen was awarded the Lifesaving Medal and the Medal of Valor. For his heroic efforts at great personal risk to himself, he was also honored as the 2016 Officer of the Year.

The Community Impact Award was presented to the Omaha Police Department Gang Unit for its efforts to clean our streets of hundreds of dangerous and violent criminals and to mentor and support local at-risk youth. Lieutenant Ken Kanger accepted the award on the Unit’s behalf. In their honor, a cash donation of $1,000 was provided to the Gang Unit’s youth outreach programs.

Omaha Police Foundation - Gang Unit

Gang Unit – Community Outreach

Since 1999, the Omaha Police Foundation (OPF) has promoted and strengthened the Omaha Police Department by providing financial support and creating community partnerships to ensure it has highly qualified officers who have the training, equipment and technology needed to prevent crime, save lives and make Omaha a safer community. Supervised by a 16-member board of directors, OPF has raised over $4 million to fund a variety of initiatives not covered by funding from the City of Omaha. For more information on the Omaha Police Foundation, visit www.OmahaPoliceFoundation.org.