Baltimore City Police History Website's
"Officers of the Year"

For the last three or four years, (written in 2016) Patty and I have been wanting to do an Officer of the Year program from the History site. Ideally, we would have liked to have at least one officer from each of the nine districts, but we could end up with nine or more officers all from the same district, nine or more officers from every district, or just one officer from the entire department. What we are saying is that there will not be a limitation on the number of officers that could be selected, and if we end up with what may seem like too many nominations and they all seem to be worthy, then we'll have multiple, "Officer of the Year" awards, and maybe one, "Outstanding Officer for that Year." if it seems one stands out. We would also like to include retired officers too, because we know there are plenty of retired officers that are still dedicated and still making a difference in our police family. If you want to nominate an officer, feel free to send us an email at the following address:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can look at those we have already chosen as our choice for the Baltimore Police History Site's Officer of the Year.

2023

2023 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Detective David Jones
Det. Jones assisted in helping a lost person from out of state, who had special needs to reunite with their family, bringing closure to the victim’s family and demonstrating persistence and thoroughness.

2020

2020 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Officer Jamal Wright
Officer Wright actively participated in community outreach programs, mentoring at-risk youth in the Southern District. His positive impact on young lives garnered widespread appreciation.

Sgt William "Billy" Shiflett - For standing up in a town-hall meeting to defend the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department against disrespect handed down by mayoral candid, Thiru Vignarnjah. Sgt Shiflett wasn't letting him get away with this kind of police bashing, and we are proud of him, making him our first Officer of the Year 2020. 

P/O John Brandt - For assisting us to preserve our history, through research and gathering memorabilia to aid us in better telling our story, showing the tools of BPD past. As well as checking in on and helping our disabled officers with anything from building morale to moving items, or sometimes he'll just stop by, or give a call to make sure things are going well.

Harry Eichman - For assisting us to preserve our history, through research Harry has done some complicated research into the use of Baltimore City Police buttons. We don't often give outside of our agency, or to non-sworn researchers. But this research was difficult, time consuming and without him, we may have come close, but it would have filled with gaps of missing information and Ken would not have felt as if it was enough to actually add to the site. But with Harry's info we are all thankful, and confident it is right..  Click HERE to see Harry Eichman's work. .

Honorary Police Gary Hunter - President of American Patch and Pin - Gary has done a lot for us over the years, helping with fundraisers, providing the best prices in patch making, not just best prices, and best service, but his company provides the best quality patches we have gotten anywhere. Since we started buying patches circa 2004, we have never gotten the quality we have been getting from American Patch and Pin, those that know me know I have been picky over what goes on our patches, and that has caused delays, with American Patch and Pin, we don't have those problems, Gary gets it right the first time every time. For this, we are making him an Honorary Baltimore City Police Officer and awarding him with one of our Baltimore Police Historic Societies’ "Officer of the Year Awards. "So, if you need a quality patch maker that listens to your ideas, and gives you what you want, contact American Patch and Pin - HERE

Sgt. Ed Mattson - For helping us to preserve our Baltimore Police History, through research and gathering memorabilia to aid us in better telling our story, showing the tools of our past. Click HERE

Lieutenant Robert Wilson - For sending us his collection of Baltimore police slides to be added to the site, giving us not just some nice old BPD memories, but also helping to preserve history and confirm some of our research. So far from the slides we have added nearly 300 of the 600 to maybe even 1000 plus pics the Lieutenant has sent, and he has more information coming.

Det. Roberta A. Yates - Employee/Retiree Affairs Unit, one of the important things about our site is not just to preserve our history but also to give current info on our retired and active officers that might have recently passed away. We post this info on our "Final Roll Call" page, this is important info as it allows our visitors a way of sending their respects to the family of their brothers and sisters that have passed, and allows us to send those well wishes in a timely manner, or even to attend the services. Det. Yates always provides this information in a timely manner and for this we are extremely thankful for her services

Lt. Les Stickles - Some of our Officer of the Year recipients are so modest that they do not want others to know why they were honored with this award. We can understand that, so the reason we are naming Retired Lt Stickles with this award will remain between this him and us. But, the reason we are awarding Ret Lt. Les Stickles, is so honorable that we felt he had to be recognized. So while you may not know what he did, let's just say he earned the right to have his name on this page, and his modesty in and of itself, shows his character. Thanks from us to Ret Lt.  Les Stickles.

Honorary Police George Fotis - A North Point Pharmacist is making his own hand sanitizer & giving it away for free! Groups in need can help by sending a couple of workers to help bottle the product. In a time of need where most are taking whatever they can get, George Fotis is giving away what people need. Baltimore Police were in a position where they couldn’t wait it out, they had to go out into the public, and they had to come into contact with that same public, therefore this potentially deadly virus is thrust upon them on a regular basis. George Fotis realized hand sanitizer was in short supply, and that it was something that could potentially save the lives of our first responders. So, he being a pharmacist, made his own sanitizer, and at about $4 a bottle, he just gave it away. Hundreds of bottles were offered every day, and over time, thousands were given away. Not being one to forget about our first responders, he also supplied our police: yes, even though he is a Baltimore County-based business he supplied his store-made sanitizer to our Baltimore City Police. And for that, we are making him an Honorary Baltimore City Police Officer and awarding him with one of our Baltimore Police Historic Societies’ "Officer of the Year Awards."

Officer Jonathan Harris: In early September 2019, Baltimore Police Officer Jonathan Harris responded to a call for a person in distress. It's been a year since then and he's still responding to that call. The call involving a young man at the end of his rope, he had been struggling with his worth, at 18 years old he was the family bread winner earning to support his mother and younger sibling had become more than he could handle, it would have been more for many full grown adults to handle. Officer Harris searched the area until he located the young man, he explained who he was and that he was there to help, and help he did. Keeping in touch with the young man to make sure he was OK, Officer Harris helped the young man find value in his life. Followed through on a promise to get him a driver's handbook, he took it a step further helping the young man study and take his written test, before again helping him to get the much needed driving time, and finally taking his to his driving test to get his driver's license. All this and one would thing, what more could he do, well, Micaiah is the young man's name, who has not only gotten his driver's license, and found a life long friend in the Officer but, Micaiah has signed up to be a member of United States Air Force. Because Officer Harris has demonstrated the kind of compassion and concern of a Baltimore police officer; we are making him one of our Baltimore City Police Historic Societies, 2020 Officer's of the Year. Click HERE to see the video

2019

2019 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Captain Lisa Martinez
Capt. Martinez implemented innovative crime reduction strategies in the Northwestern District. Her data-driven approach and community engagement efforts resulted in a significant drop in violent crime.

Bernie Wehage - Bernie joined the department in the late 1950s or early 1960s During that time he worked his way up from a footman, to a turnkey, and eventually promoted to Sergeant. During his years on the force, he worked Central District, Northwestern, and Southeastern during these years, he saved blank, unused reports, folders, envelopes, etc. One or two of each, preserved because around the time he put them away they were switching to a new system of reporting. He also took pictures and a lot of notes. At the age of 83, he contacted Ken to pass some of these pics, files, and folders on. While on he received many awards, including the time he was called to the Commissioner's office to congratulate him for consistently shooting 100s at the range. His memorabilia has already helped to answer some questions regarding call box numbers and locations. For his work in helping to preserve our department's history, We are making him one of Baltimore Police Historical Society's 2019 Officer of the Year. Click HERE

Gary Provenzano - Like Bernie, Gary has been a collector and historian for years, this year not only did he share the information from his collection, into Ken's he also helped t answer some long unanswered questions. In with his records, Gary included a certificate from 9 March 1888 the same date Robert D Carter was appointed to the Rank of Sergeant. Gary also researches fallen officers that are not recognized. Several years back he found two officers, Benjamin Benton and Robert M. Rigdon from 1858. It wasn't right away, but eventually, after Gary sent his information to the department he received a letter from the department explaining that the names are now recognized, it gave the name of the officer that took care of it. For his work in helping us to preserve our department's history, we are making him one of Baltimore Police Department's Historical Society's 2019 Officer of the Year. Click HERE

Honorary Police Historian Leo Kahl - He never served as a Police Officer or Detective for Baltimore, but during the 2015 Riots local artist Leo Kahl felt compelled to make a piece of art to raise awareness of today's police in society. The painting was going to be made into sell prints to raise monies to help the Baltimore 6, and other officers in distress. Since then it has been decided that we would keep just on painting and that would be the original they will be posted on our history site, and hung in the police museum for the public to learn from. We are extremely thanks for this artist to have introduced his talents to the Baltimore Police Department. Click HERE

Anthony L. Ferraro - Like Bernie, and Gary, Tony, has been a collector a historian and as an added skill set, Tony was also a police museum curator for the United States Park Police. more than 25 years ago, while attending a patch show, he came across two police coats, both Baltimore City Police, he knew they were important so he rescued them. We don't have all the dates on them, but the first he sent we suspect i a, "Mess Dress" Black-tie coat for a special event. We found a date of 1914 on it and three stars on the sleeve, at first I thought it was a 15 year guy, but then I heard these coat/jackets typically wear the rank on the cuff of the sleeve. The next coat he preserved for our department's history is an older coat, it has wooden pegs and loops where buttons should be. As we get more info we will post it along with some photos. Aside from all he did for us in saving these important coats, Detective Sergeant Ferraro was also a guard at the time of the unknown soldier from 1960 thru 1962. For his service to our country and help to preserving our history, we are honored to add Retired Detective Sergeant Anthony L Ferraro to our list of 2019 Baltimore City Police Historical Society's Officers of the Year.

 

2018

2018 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Officer David Lee
Officer Lee’s quick thinking and bravery saved a child from a burning building in the Northeastern District. His actions exemplified the highest standards of duty and compassion.

Thomas J. Niemiera - Retired Officer Niemiera, continues to represent our agency when after being assaulted to a point where he was nearly killed, needed months of in-hospital treatment, therapy, and treatment, got himself ready for a second battle, one in which he would have to go to trial against his attackers, and tell, then retell his story, under both States Attorney questioning and then cross-examination, in which he was made out to be the bad guy, just long enough to show the judge what kind of defendants and defense attorney she was dealing with. The assault took place on 25 Oct 2015, a signal 13 was called, but then called off by 09.

He was reported to the Commissioner, Kevin Davis who made several visits to the hospital to see Officer Niemiera. Likewise, Commissioner Davis assured us that he had a talk with the Lieutenant that called off the signal 13 on retired officer Niemiera, Davis said Once a Baltimore Officer, always a Baltimore Officer, and when a signal 13 is called it will be answered. With nearly 150 metal braces, screws, pins, and rods, Officer Niemiera's face was reconstructed, as was started to say earlier, he went to several trials a faced his attackers, both sister and brother were convicted. For Officer Niemiera's fight both physically and mentally, to get better from this attack, and then standing up to his attackers and seeing to it that they would not be on the streets to treat anyone else like this. Officer Niemiera will be one of this year’s Baltimore Police History Site's, Officers of the Year. Like most of Baltimore's finest, Thomas Niemiera has become a great friend to Ken, our history site, and to the preservation of our department's past. 

Officer John Heiderman – Retired - John is a historian collector that made sure I had near anything and everything I needed from exhibits to information and best of all he has become a great friend. Click HERE

Officer Kathy Irwin – Retired - Kathy shares an interest in our past she cares about our past, our present and our future, she doesn't like credit for the things she does and that could be a good thing because trying to list them all could take forever and even then I am sure somethings will be left off the list. She seems to know everyone, like John, Mark, and Dave, Kathy has also become a great friend to Patty and me. Click HERE

Officer Mike Dunn  – This being the 40th Anniversary year of that 7th day of April 1979 when Mike stopped a van for a traffic violation. The vehicle was occupied times 3, the driver and two females, Mike had no way of knowing the young ladies were being held against their will, he had no way of knowing they were kidnapped, raped, and that he was about to take three shots from the driver of that vehicle in an attempt to take Mike's life. Mike had other plans, It has been 40 years, and as part of our goals to preserve history, we have to give Mike our Baltimore City Police Historical Society's 2018 Officer of the Year. We are honored to have him as part of our BPD family, we thank him for his service, and for making history by showing us, "It really works! It really works! It did the job!'  Click HERE

Sergeant David Randy Dull – Serge Dull,  has more than 35 years dedicated service to the Baltimore Police Department. Often taking money from his own pocket for training or equipment to make things easier on him and his men. Working for him can be a challenge, he wants the best and can sometimes catch you between your ups, but he is smart enough to recognize the quality work coming in, and that it couldn't be done without a lot more ups in your work than downs, so when the brass starts complaining, he is quick to back his men up, and he keeps supporting documentation to show he and his squad get results. So for his dedication to the City, the Police Department and to the men that have worked for him, currently work for him or will someday work for him we are making him one of our Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year 

Detective Derreck Sargent – Detective Sargent always worked to help us gather needed information to verify Baltimore Police History. Derreck made sure we had accurate up to date information and best of all he has become a good friend. He provided information on retired and active officers that had passed away so that we can keep an accurate Final Roll Call page here on the site as well we posted said information along with viewing information so our retired brothers and sisters could say their final goodbyes and let the families know how much their father, husband, brother/sister etc. meant to us in the department. Derreck also made sure we access historical data necessary to help family members of Officers that worked the department years ago, and so we knew for sure who we were doing research on. As we all know there is not a lot of information on our agencies history. That is why Bill Hackley started the History site and why we work to keep it up. It is also why we need people like Detective Sargent who seemed to work around the clock to give whatever info he could give us so that we knew we were on the right track and so that we could better preserve our agency's passed, and for his dedication to the department, to the city and toward preserving BPD History we are making him one of our Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year. 

Honorary Police Officer Robert Keene  – Throughout Ken's career when he was working a difficult case, anything from cloned phones to just kicking around a case, he knew he could always turn to Robert "Bobby" Keene for help with answers to his questions. One case, in particular, dealt with techniques for tracing, tracking, and identifying cloned cellular telephones. Years later when Ken needed help with historical research or even rebuilding, or fabricating parts to make exhibits, Ken knew he could turn to Robert "Bobby" Keene. As a lifelong body and fender man, Ken knew Bobby could give us the advice we needed. He has always been there for us whether it was for help with questions dealing with fighting crime or researching our police department's history to recreating exhibits we need to help tell the stories of our past. Without a seconds delay, when summoned Bobby has always been there to answer the call, with a willingness that has almost been a need for him to extend his hand and help us until the task was complete. For this, we are making him our Baltimore Police Historical Society's Honorary Police Officer and giving him one of our historical society's Officer of the Year Award.

This list is incomplete. I am sure Ken and his close friends will be looking at, and voting on plenty of others for this years list 

2017

2017 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Detective Emily Turner
Det. Turner’s investigative work led to the arrest of a notorious gang leader responsible for multiple homicides. Her dedication to solving complex cases earned her recognition from both the department and the community.

Officer John Heiderman – Retired - John is a historian and collector who made sure I had near anything and everything I needed, from exhibits to information and best of all, he has become a great friend.

Officer David Eastman – Retired - Dave is a historian who not only provides us with an incredible amount of historical data, but he always has his ear to the ground for exhibits, if he doesn't send them to us himself, he gets their information so that we can make contact ourselves. Also, he lets us know where these things are so we can either buy items or go pick them up (Dave talks to a lot of people and manages to have things donated or sold at low low prices.) Dave has also made sure we have near anything we needed from exhibits to information and he has become a great friend.

Officer Mark Frank – Retired - Mark shares an interest in our past he won't call himself a historian, (but he is) and he doesn't like taking credit for the things he has sent, bought, or helped to buy. But he is informative, helpful and like John and Dave, most importantly Mark has become a great friend

Officer Kathy Irwin – Retired - Kathy shares an interest in our past she cares about our past, our present and our future, she doesn't like credit for the things she does and that could be a good thing because trying to list them all could take forever and even then I am sure somethings will be left off the list. She seems to know everyone, like John, Mark, and Dave, Kathy has also become a great friend to Patty and me.

Sergeant David Dull – Active - Sgt Dull has been extremely helpful in preserving and maintaining our past. He seems to always know when help is needed and is always ready to provide that help. He is like other on this list in that he doesn't ask for recognition or expect it, but it is important to give credit where credit is due. Sgt Dull is also a great friend, but it takes more than friendship to make this list otherwise this list would be super long as Patty and I have a ton of friends.

Mel Tallagsen – Webmaster / Tech Support - Since the beginning of the second rebuild around 2013/14 Mel has been our go-to guy, whenever we have issues with the site or server Mel stops what he is doing to help us get back up and running. On top of this Mel taught me how to do most of the easier things myself, so much so, that I build a third backup site, but we like this site so much it is hard to leave it so Mel keeps finding ways to patch things up. For that reason, we are giving him an Honorary Officer of the Year

 

2016

2016 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Lieutenant Michael Harris
Lt. Harris played a crucial role in improving police-community relations in the Western District. He initiated dialogue sessions, bridging gaps between residents and law enforcement, and received praise for his commitment to transparency.  
Officer Matthew Verga – Active – Southwestern
Officer Christopher Szakolczai – Active – Southwestern
Officer Robbert "Bobby" Brown – Active – Southern
Detective Derreck Sargent  – Active – Employee/Retiree Affairs Unit
Detective Dawnyell Taylor – Active – Homicide
Officer Tom Bolte – Active –
Officer Scott DeMario – Active –
Officer Van Watson  – Active – 
Officer Luis Gonzalez – Active – 
Officer Mario Notargiacomo  – Active – ACS Administrator 
Officer Daryl Buhrman  – Retired – Benevolence Association (Founder of the Distress Fund) 
Media Producer –  Director Gino Inocentes– Active – Media Relations 

2015

2015 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

Sergeant Maria Rodriguez
Sgt. Rodriguez demonstrated exceptional leadership during a crisis situation in the Southern District. She coordinated a successful response to a hostage situation, ensuring the safety of civilians and officers involved.

2014

2014 Baltimore Police History Site Officers of the Year

 Officer John Smith
Officer Smith was recognized for his outstanding community policing efforts in the Eastern District. He organized neighborhood watch programs, engaged with local schools, and helped reduce crime rates in the area.

This list is not complete, as we are still accepting nominations. The bulk of those names above the blue divider line are in recognition for their work to promote a better Baltimore Police Department, build Rapport with the community and live by the departmental Motto, "Semper Paratus - Semper Fideles - Ever on the Watch." Others are on here for their dedication toward helping with the building of the new Baltimore City Police Museum located in the gallery of 601 E Fayette St. Below the blue line are named Officer of the year for their helping Officer in their time of need.

There are no monetary awards presented with this. At the present time, this is more for bragging rights, although we hope to have mini Espantoons turned or maybe some sort of challenge coin that could be given to winners showing they are our Officers of the Year.  If you know anyone that you think should be considered, write us at the email address above with the officer's name, assignment - status (Active or Retired), and why you think they should receive the award.  If enough people write the same person, we would certainly have no reason not to award them this award. So if you think someone deserves it, PM your friends and have them write the officer in. For now, we'll use the email, and I will eventually work to have submission added to the page.   

In honor of Det. Shirley Disney's work to support the Special Olympics of  Maryland. Consider making your contributions to the Maryland Special Olympics.

 

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