Lincoln – MADD Nebraska honored local heroes during their annual Hero Awards Event at Wilderness Ridge.

The award winners were selected by committee for their strong dedi­cation to keeping Nebraska safe from the dangers of impaired driv­ing and underage drinking through direct law enforcement, prosecu­tion, probation or education and awareness. 

These honorees are among the best of our state and were honored for the outstanding work during the 2018 year, according to a MADD Nebraska news release.

The award winners are:

Adult DUI Enforcement (Individual): Officer Keith Lampert (Omaha Police Department), Officer Scott Shymkewicz (Omaha Police Department), Officer Lucas Brown (Ralston Police Department), Deputy Anthony Incontro (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office), Trooper Ryan Stirn (Nebraska State Patrol), Trooper Michael Nutsch (Nebraska State Patrol), Trooper Austin Donner (Nebraska State Patrol), Deputy Gabrielle Frank (Dodge County Sheriff’s Office), Officer Jeremy Zipay (Omaha Police Department), Officer Patrick Soltys (Omaha Police Department), Deputy John McGahan (Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office) and Trooper Jake Arnold (Nebraska State Patrol).

Adult DUI Enforcement (Team): Sergeant JJ Pedersen, Trooper Ryan Stirn, Trooper Luke Kelley, Trooper Zachary Lorang, Trooper Cody Cassidy and Trooper Justin Brase (Nebraska State Patrol); Troopers Matthew Naughtin, Kelli Nichelson and Nick Jones (Nebraska State Patrol); and Lincoln Police Department Third Shift Officers (Lincoln Police Department).

Drug Recognition Expert (Individual): Officer Sara Genoways (Lincoln Police Department).

Education and Awareness (Individual): Lisa Beacom RN EMT-P (CHI Advance Wound Care/Serena Group) and Trooper Charlie Cook (Nebraska State Patrol).

Education and Awareness (Team): Trooper Keith Bell and Trooper Kevin Chase (Nebraska State Patrol).

MIP Enforcement (Individual): Investigator Shane Belgum (Nebraska State Patrol).

Probation (Individual): Cindy Wohlers-Green (Probation – Lancaster County) and Shannon Travis (District 5 Probation). 

Probation (Team): Morgan Campbell and Graciela Swim (District 5 Probation).

Prosecutor – Individual: Jessica Laughlin (Scotts Bluff County Attorney’s Office).

Prosecutor – Team: AshleyBohnet, Ryan Decker and Erica Pruess (Lancaster County Attorney’s Office). 

Traffic Enforcement Mobilization (Team): Lincoln Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit (Lincoln Police Department).

MADD Community Partner Award: Kathy Siefken (Nebraska Grocery Industry Association).

Each year in the U.S., more than 10,000 people are killed and an­other 345,000 are injured in drunk driving crashes. In Nebraska, 71 people were killed in 2017 in alco­hol-related crashes. The men and women working throughout our state in the criminal justice arena are paving the way to a safer state and a future with no more victims. 

Find more information on the nonprofit at madd.org/nebraska.

– MADD Nebraska