Honoring Our Heroes
On May 23, 2023, MADD Nebraska held our annual MADD Hero Awards Ceremony at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln.
From the outside, the event probably looks like any other ceremony. We had speakers, special guests, and a number of awards to present. But, what you don’t see from the outside is just how incredibly special this particular event was. Why? Because this event honored some very incredible people. It honored so many who aren’t always thanked for the work they do. The MADD Hero Awards said thank you to those who serve and those who save lives. Our 29 honorees were mainly law enforcement and probation. People who do the work to end impaired driving. MADD cannot make an impact on the fight against impaired driving without those who work to enforce, educate, treat, and create change. We also know that every person who makes the sacrifice to protect our community from impaired driving, has a support system. We thank those who support those who do the work. The magic of the Hero Awards event is in the people in the room. From those who win to those who support, to those who are still learning their role in the fight. Together, everyone is part of a future with no more victims and that is why the day is so special.
We also have to take the opportunity to thank our special guests for the event Colonel Ron Replogle (Ret), MADD National Law Enforcement Initiatives Manager, and William Kovarik, NDOT Highway Safety Administrator. A huge thanks to the Nebraska Department of Transportation Office of Highway Safety and Atwood Law Firm, the extra support of these two groups made the experience for all of the winners and their families even more meaningful!
The 2023 MADD Heroes Are:
Adult DUI/DWI-Individual
Officer Brian Najera,Beatrice Police Department
Officer Alexandria Stobbe, Ralston Police Department
Deputy Ryan McSweeney, Cherry County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Christopher Williamson, Fremont Police Department
Deputy Paige Uzzell, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Jason Schnieder, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Joshua Townsend, Burt County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Seth McLaughlin, Alliance Police Department
Officer Jordan Jeffrey, Omaha Police Department
Trooper Benjamin Nguyen, Nebraska State Patrol Troop H Lincoln
Investigator Kathleen Brandt, Lincoln Police Department
Officer Edward Walters, Lincoln Police Department
Trooper Jonathan Royle, Nebraska State Patrol
Deputy Braden Shiley, Richardson County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Benjamin Keenan, Lincoln Police Department
Officer Zach Scholl, Lincoln Police Department
Deputy Anthony Gann, Seward County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Brennan Andrew, Morrill County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Kaden Brandt, Nebraska State Patrol, Troop D
Adult DUI/DWI-Team
Troop H Weekend Night Shift
Sgt. Sean Wilson, Troopers Benjamin Nguyen, Nathan Knudson, Chase Landry, Ethan Schroeder, Moamal Ali, Joel McGrew, Nicholas Buck, Regan Holst
Nebraska State Patrol Troop H
Southwest Team Bicycle Patrol Unit
Officers Aaron Baney, Matthew Maguire, Connor Johnson, Ryan Sternhagen
Lincoln Police Department
Troop D
Sgt. Samuel Mortensen, Sgt. Darrel Crawford, Troopers Nathan Schulz, Kaden Brandt, Albert Brooks, Alex Coffman, David Cramer, Matthew Naughtin, Johnathan Royle, Jon Sanko, Schuyler Sauser, James Roberts Nebraska State Patrol Troop D
C Team
Lt. Mike Pettit, Sgt. Nick Greiner, Sgt. Craig Haverty, Officers Matt McGinn, Robert Markve, Ryan Agustin, Molly Coon, Jeff Keefe, Shalen Shivers, Crystal Kenny, Telly Ogea, Marissa Holwerda, Mike Jarvis
Bellevue Police Department
Drug Recognition Expert
Corporal Taylor J. Samek, York County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Ryan Lawrence, Lincoln Police Department
Education and Awareness
Officer Greg Lemons, Omaha Police Department
Officer Matt Kelly & Office Dan Rubin, Omaha Police Department
MIP Enforcement-Individual
Officer Courtney Brauch, Beatrice Police Department
Probation Individual
Officer Derek Berg, State of Nebraska Probation, District #2
If you would like any of the photos from the event, you can download them here.