The Omaha Police Foundation recently recognized Officer Jason Messerschmidt as its 2019 officer of the year during a virtual event.

Real estate developer Jay Noddle, president and CEO of Noddle Companies, delivered remarks during a virtual ceremony for the annual award presentation, praising police officers for their extra efforts in 2020 in the face of both a pandemic and civil unrest.

“The sacrifice, commitment, dedication and courage that’s required of each and every one of you just to simply carry out your normal and daily duties protecting our community is so much different than those of us who aren’t part of the police force,” Noddle said.

Noddle added: “Because of the great work the Omaha police force does, Omaha is one of the best places in the country to live, to raise a family, to run a business and be proud of.”

Messerschmidt assisted with a river rescue on June 2, 2019, on the Elkhorn River.

Messerschmidt and Omaha Police Officer Matt Stewart were piloting ABLE-1 when they located a male in the river and two parties in a canoe, according to an account shared at the ceremony.

 The man in the water was in distress and was struggling. The fire department was unable to launch their boat. Stewart landed ABLE-1 in an open field nearby, and Messerschmidt hiked through the field and tree line to reach the man who was struggling.

Messerschmidt found a long pole and used it to reach out to the man, who was injured with abrasions and broken bones. He pulled the man to shore and then helped him into the helicopter. The pilots flew the man to nearby emergency personnel, who then transported him to the hospital.

In addition to the officer of the year award, Officer Christopher Ray, Officer Dave Staskiewicz, Sgt. Stacy Williams and Lt. Tracy Schearer received the Police Ribbon of Excellence. Officer Mark Kiley, Lt. Darci Tierney, Sgt. Jeff Kopietz, Detective Bill Fell and Lt. Patrick Rowland received the Distinguished Service Medal.

Messerschmidt was joined with seven other police officers who received the Police Lifesavings Medal: Officers Matthew Hirz, Timothy Seiker, Jeffrey Kilgore, Christopher McElligott, Humberto Herrera, Ulices Machuca-Casillas and Jeremy Wedel.

Ten people also earned the Police Blue Shield Medal: Officers Timothy Bauman, Eric Henka, Kyle Graber, Jared Grayson, Dustin Hill, Jill Schillerberg and Matt Skradski and Detectives Chris Brown, Jeff Wasmund and Chris Perchal.

In addition, Staskiewicz and Detective Ken Fortune were presented the Purple Heart Medal. Scherer was presented the 2019 Community Impact Award.

Watch the ceremony at youtu.be/-n6NJKvvQ18.