2024 UWPD Awards

Nominated by: Police Officer Jenson Lee

On August 24, 2024, Maple Bluff PD and MPD requested a drone to help assist in locating a subject who led them in a vehicle pursuit and eventually bailed from the vehicle and fled on foot.  Officer Arbay utilized his drone and the drone technology to help MBPD and MPD locate the subject shortly after, finding them hiding behind a residence.  Officer Arbay helped direct officers on the ground directly to the subject, and they were able to take the subject into custody without harm to either police officers or the subject.  Officer Arbay’s actions demonstrated high resourcefulness and dedication to public safety.

Nominated by: LED Kyleah Carruthers

On April 29, 2024,  UWPD received a call from a concerned parent about a distressing email from their UW student. The email indicated they had plans to commit suicide, and included a potential location where their body could be found. LED Kyleah Carruthers gathered key details, assisted the mother, and helped dispatch officers to the area. She also used data from the access control system to find the student. At almost the same time, Dane County Communications contacted our dispatch center with a report of someone who had hanged themselves at Picnic Point.

Police Officers Devan Arbay and David Brunsak were the first to arrive on scene. Once they located the individual, they worked to lift the person and cut them free from the rope. PO Brunsak and Arbay immediately began lifesaving measures with CPR and an AED. Sgt. AP Prescott arrived on scene and tagged in to assist with lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived.

Unfortunately, the individual did not survive the incident.

Nominated by: Sgt. Vinson Mulvey

In the morning of June 9, 2024, UWPD officers responded to the Lux apartment building where a shooting occurred, which resulted in numerous victims.  Reports from callers were of an active shooter on the roof of the building.  Officers did not hesitate to respond directly to the scene, potentially putting themselves in harm’s way, to provide medical attention and secure the scene so EMS could attend to victims.  Officers took on a number of different roles, including providing initial medical care to patients who ran out of the building, clearing different floors and stairwells of the building to ensure there were no active threats, providing crowd control so EMS could efficiently treat patients and take them to hospitals, setting up a perimeter, and responding to various locations in the area to break up disturbances.

After all patients were transported to UW Hospital, officers responded to the scene to coordinate a chaotic scene in which numerous family members and friends of the victims arrived on scene and tensions were running very high.  Officers worked with hospital staff, visitors, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the hospital was secure, immediate family members were identified and allowed into the hospital, and the family and friends waiting outside the hospital were safe.

The dispatch team was integral in coordinating an efficient and safe response to this incident. Dispatchers kept track of where officers were stationed, passed along information regarding potential victims and suspects from the incident, reviewed cameras, and worked with the Manager on Call to disseminate accurate information to students via WiscAlert all while taking phone calls regarding the incident.  Without dispatchers being calm, collected, organized, and efficient, this response could not have happened as it did.

This incident was one of the most dangerous and chaotic to occur in downtown Madison in recent history. Responding officers demonstrated bravery, calmness under intense stress, and competence in helping manage this scene. At least ten confirmed victims from this incident survived, and the officers’ response played a large part in that.

Nominated by: Capt. Mark Silbernagel

The UWPD Explosive Detection K9 Teams of PO Justin Zurbuchen/Ritter and ​PO Derek Austin/Mavi went above and beyond in their service and dedication in 2024. They had 87 total deployments that occurred on campus, locally, regionally, and statewide. Many of these deployments were in support of municipal, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. They epitomized the “Wisconsin Idea” in spreading the benefit and impact of the UW-Madison far beyond its boundaries.

They conducted pre-event searches and security at many special events, including national election campaign visits, rallies, protests, demonstrations, and other expressive activity events. They were also called upon to help search for dangerous objects and track people during incidents or threats. This was in addition to their expanded support of the many sporting events hosted on and around campus.

The K9 teams were often some of the first to arrive and last to leave because they were so valuable to the mission of maintaining the safety and security of everyone present. ​

Nominated by: Security Officer Julian Flores

They say there are 3 things in life that you can count on: Death, Taxes, and Mark Barnaba.

During my relatively short tenure here, I’ve seen many individuals “go the extra mile” — but I believe that of those individuals, Lead Security Officer Mark Barnaba deserves more recognition for his exemplary service to UW-Madison Security, the UW-Madison Police Department, and to the UW-Madison campus. Security Supervisor Barnaba has quickly become a role model and the epitome of Excellence for the UW-Madison Police Department, as evidenced by his work ethic, good-natured attitude, willingness to help—often without being asked to—and patience.

Security Supervisor Barnaba, of his own volition, has explored almost every building on campus to verify or update location notes, which includes the location of fire panel annunciators and main fire control panels, then transcribed that information onto cards that easily fit into officers’ cargo pockets. These cards have enabled responding officers to not only quickly reference the key set needed for the building, but also the location of the fire panels, directions to the Fire Control rooms, and how to access the fire control room. Security Supervisor Barnaba completed this project during his regularly scheduled shifts, utilizing whatever downtime was available to him.

Security Officer Barnaba has also exhibited those virtues with the community: with his dedication to service, Security Officer Barnaba has made an effort to respond to calls for service as promptly as possible, almost never taking more than 10 minutes to arrive
on scene after being dispatched. Security Officer Barnaba has also displayed this commitment to service by assisting Police and EMS, either by standing by to provide continued observation on an intoxicated and incapacitated individual (24-17138) or by
alerting dispatch of a possible battery (24-23899) from a concerned citizen that resulted in a Disruptive Conduct arrest by UWPD and has served as a de facto Subject Matter Expert of transients’ frequently occupied areas in campus buildings as well as the
behaviors of certain transients.

Time and time again, Security Supervisor Barnaba has offered to help in any capacity he can: Security Supervisor Barnaba has made himself available for shift swaps and overtime; to answer any questions field services officers have on building navigation; to assist in walking through buildings to instill confidence in newer Security Officers or to answer any questions new Officers may have. This willingness to help also continues while off duty, offering to help his peers and colleagues with moving, providing transport to medical appointments, and acquiring discounts for running shoes.

Security Supervisor Barnaba has also assisted with promoting the department’s health and well-being initiatives by forming a run club and taking on the herculean task of getting people to run.

Security Supervisor Barnaba has regularly shown patience with his shift peers and colleagues—most of whom are younger—when we get a little rambunctious; patience with the frequently contacted transients, even having pleasant conversations with them—once while waiting for Police Officers to cite them for a business hours violation; patience with new staff; and serves as an excellent mentor. Security Supervisor Barnaba arrives at the department ready to work, with a smile on his face, and a salutation in his pocket, and is an absolute pleasure to share a communal space with.

Indeed, his moniker “Super Dad” is duly earned. Because of this, I cannot recommend Security Supervisor Barnaba highly enough for an Excellent Service Commendation.

Nominated by: LRAS Supervisor Sean Geib

On September 12, 2024, dispatch received a call regarding a woman being disruptive on a pier at the Memorial Union. Shortly after officers arrived, the woman jumped into the lake and started swimming away from shore. Officers could not persuade her to return so Lake Rescue & Safety was notified.

Boat 24 responded first and threw a ring buoy to the woman to assist with keeping her afloat. However, the woman did not want to return to shore and demanded that she only speak with females. About 15 minutes later, Officer Krista Bayley boarded Boat 24 and tried speaking with the woman. Despite being a female officer, the woman wanted nothing to do with her. Further, the woman abandoned the ring buoy she was using and started swimming further out into the lake.

A few minutes later, LRAS staff Jessie Bowden, aboard Boat 20, tried speaking with the woman. Jessie was successful in maintaining a conversation with the woman. After 20 minutes, Jessie convinced the woman to board Boat 20. With the woman safely out of the water, Jessie continued to speak with the woman and deescalate the situation. About 10 minutes later, Boat 20 docked at the Goodspeed Pier to meet an all-female CARES team specifically assembled for the situation. Despite the team being only females, the woman refused to speak with any of them, however, she would still speak with Jessie. After another 10 minutes on Boat 20, Jessie was able to persuade the woman to step onto the pier. To help keep the woman calm and cooperative, Jessie rode in the ambulance with her. Additionally, once at the hospital, Jessie spoke directly with the doctors to convey what had transpired and also to provide her assessment of the woman.

Altogether, Jessie spent well over an hour with this distressed and uncooperative woman. Jessie was the only person who was able to speak with the woman, calm her down, and eventually talk some sense into her. Throughout this event, Jessie remained cool, calm, and very positive. Jessie’s efforts that day went well above her typical job duties as she was the only one successful in deescalating a delicate situation and bringing the woman back to shore safely. Jessie’s actions also demonstrate her passion for caring for people and for helping people out of difficult situations. Without Jessie working that day, the situation may have had a different and less favorable outcome.

Nominated by: Director Tracey Berman

Manager Danielle Bridges has gone above and beyond in improving the health and wellness of UWPD employees and is building trusting relationships with previously strained areas across campus.

Danielle has improved the peer support group, mentor program, physical therapy program, massage therapy program, mental health program, our mental health and wellness policy, held a successful blood drive, and so many more events that have helped our employees.  She has also committed to improving relationships with marginalized members of our community and has made connections and a positive difference in building trust.

Danielle has built trust internally and externally above and beyond her position description.  She positively impacts all those that she comes in contact with and continually goes above and beyond.  She is more than deserving of an excellence service award!

Nominated by: Law Enforcement Dispatch Supervisor Dawn Veirs

On August 15, 2024, LED Brunner was working in the UWPD Dispatch Center when she heard about a significant fire response being dispatched to the east side of Madison. LED Brunner knew that our patrol officers and several dispatchers were participating in an active killer in-service training not far from that area and their safety was at risk.

LED Brunner immediately reached out to LEDS Veirs, who was on scene, to make her aware of the situation. The incident involved a 1,000-gallon propane tank with a broken valve, leaking significant amounts of propane. Madison Fire was actively evacuating the area due to the nature and seriousness of the leak.

LED Brunner communicated pertinent details including the geography, evacuation areas, and directional information to LEDS Veirs. LEDS Veirs was able to relay that information to Sgt. Burgoni, who was coordinating the training.

LED Brunner’s actions went beyond her normal duties, and her consideration of her colleagues’ safety should be recognized.

Nominated by: Law Enforcement Dispatcher Supervisor Jonathan Gonring

On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, LED Cederquist took a call from a subject at Engineering Hall reporting his eight-year-old son was missing.  The caller indicated his son was supposed to take an Uber to Shorewood Hills Elementary School but never showed up.  LED Cederquist did an exceptional job of gathering information from the caller while working through a language barrier.  He was able to gather the description of the child, establish a timeline of events from his pick-up to the time of call, and gather the information about the Uber driver and his vehicle.

LED Brunner did well coordinating resources both on campus and with our external partners. She was able to get officers started for the child’s residence in Eagle Heights, got confirmation from Shorewood Hills Police that the child had not arrived at school, and sent officers to the Engineering Campus where, he had last been seen.

​​Through the information gathered, detectives and dispatchers who were reviewing cameras were able to determine the Uber driver had never left the area of the Engineering Campus.  Due to a language barrier between the Uber Driver and the child’s father, the Uber driver thought the father would return to the car to take the child to school.  After approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, dad and son were reunited.

Nominated by: Sgt. Meg Hamilton

​LED Kyleah Carruthers volunteered to assemble a Railway Safety training for Sgt Hamilton’s ongoing “Partners and Resources” training series. LED Carruthers had attended the 2024 WIPSCOM conference and recognized that a block of training on Rail Safety was pertinent to our campus community safety efforts. She painstakingly prepared a novel, informative training on everything from what rail lines run through Madison, how to contact the railroad company for incidents, how to identify the exact location of the rail incident, haz mat placards, collision checklists (for response), numbers/markings on a train to reference in the event of a derailment, and so much more.

​LED Carruthers presented to approximately 20 UWPD staff in 9pm briefing on July 2nd, 2024 — she also presented at 4pm briefing that same day. I was incredibly impressed with her initiative in recognizing this topic’s importance and delivering knowledge and resources on it. Bravo, LED Carruthers.

Additionally, LED Carruthers delivered this presentation to Madison PD’s Central District, by way of Sgt Nate Becker, a veteran MPD night shift sergeant.

Nominated by: Capt. Mark Silbernagel

Police Officer Ryan Conybear and Police Horse Vetter exceeded expectations and met the increased need for mounted police resources and operations in 2024. PO Conybear dedicated time and effort to training and preparing with his partner Vetter to be well suited for high stress and critical deployments throughout the year.

As a relatively new team, Conybear/Vetter developed a trusted relationship and built confidence together. This allowed Conybear to take on a more significant leadership role and continue to foster relationships with other agency mounted units. Conybear attended multiple training sessions with Milwaukee PD to prepare for his assistance with the Republican National Convention. Conybear also coordinated with local partners and helped facilitate a multiagency mounted crowd control training, providing exposure of mounted tactics to UWPD crowd control officers.

As previously mentioned, Conybear/Vetter assisted at the RNC for a full week helping to protect the safety, security, and rights of everyone in the area. Conybear/Vetter also assisted with maintaining security perimeters at several local national candidate/campaign visits. This was in addition to their support of community engagement events and UW home football games, where they were essential in helping to ensure there was not dangerous overcrowding at gates and maintaining a safe perimeter around Camp Randall Stadium.

Nominated by: Sgt. Meg Hamilton

​On Sunday, June 23, 2024 Officer Cunningham stopped a vehicle shortly before 2am for a registration violation. The license plate did not match the vehicle to which it was affixed. Officer Cunningham smelled marijuana and saw drugs in plain view, and with that probable cause, he conducted a vehicle search. Officer Cunningham located 21 bindles of cocaine, a large rock of crack cocaine, a scale and packaging equipment for illegal drug sales, cash, two cell phones, and a loaded AR-15 rifle, concealed in a duffel beneath the passenger seat. The driver was an adjudicated felon out of the state of Illinois. The driver was also on probation, for weapons violations. He had an open criminal case in Wisconsin as well for OWI with a passenger under 16 years old.

This excellent investigation did not occur by luck or chance. Officer Cunningham is a diligent, proactive officer whose ability to conduct surveillance, find intoxicated drivers, and perform legally sound vehicle searches culminates in arrests of people who pose a danger to our campus community and Madison at large. His efforts merit formal commendation.

Nominated by: Former Sgt. Nicole Zautner

​PO FBrennan Ferree and PO Devan Arbay responded to a pulseless, non-breathing subject at 614 University Ave. Both provided lifesaving measures, including chest compressions and AED until a higher level of care was available. The subject was transported to the hospital and ultimately survived this incident.

​PO Ferree initiated chest compressions. PO Arbay took over chest compressions while PO Ferree began applying the AED.

Nominated by: Sgt. Meg Hamilton

​On Saturday, August 3, 2024, Officer Koss radioed that UW Hospital Security was reporting a physical fight between an officer and a subject in the emergency department. Officer Koss routinely monitors the UW security channel and was the first to hear/report this significant safety threat.

Officer Derek Johnson was preparing to turn the ED post assignment over to Officer David Brnusak, so both were at University Hospital. They immediately ran to the behavioral health hallway of the emergency department, and assisted the MPD Officer who had been alone with an emergency detention subject when the individual attacked her. The MPD officer’s head was trapped at approximately waist height, as the subject had his fingers clenched around her hair and she could not free herself. Two additional MPD officers, along with Officer Johnson and Officer Brnusak, began valiant, strategic attempts to free the MPD officer. Officer Johnson engaged in CIT strategies of talking to the suspect using his first name, and imploring the suspect to let go. This was coupled with physical compliance. Officer Brnusak was able to overpower the suspect’s grip on the MPD officer’s hair and remove the suspect’s hand.

In reviewing the body worn camera footage, it is evident that this was a fraught situation, with four uniformed officers trying to free a trapped officer without ripping her hair out further or causing her increased pain and panic. MPD ultimately tased the suspect, and Officer Johnson adeptly moved the injured MPD officer back, as the officer team moved in to apply handcuffs.

The attacked officer suffered a torn out clump of hair. In reviewing the body worn footage, it’s clear that injuries could have been substantially more serious. Officer Brnusak and Officer Johnson displayed effective partnership, adeptness in crisis communication, and compassion and guardianship for both the injured officer and the suspect. Their above and beyond efforts prevented further injury to officers and subject, and merit formal commendation.

Nominated by: Capt. Jason Whitney

Lt. Ryan Jesberger was the lead coordinator for the department remodel of the armory and gender-inclusive locker room. Working alongside Cathryn Mosher, as Facility Manager, their attention to detail, organizational skills, and follow-through were exemplary during this project.

Navigating any campus building project can be challenging. Cathryn and Lt. Jesberger kept the department abreast of the stages of construction, regularly having to change dates and adjust multiple things simultaneously. Both coordinated with the architects, project managers, and physical plant supervisors weekly, sometimes daily. They had to navigate change orders and then were tasked with recommending options to ELT on how to move forward.

There were significant impacts to our police officers and the way they would prepare for each shift.  New space had to be identified, secured, and then procedures set in place so everyone knew the steps to access their weapons.  The movement of weapons had to be carefully planned with the training unit to make sure nothing was misplaced or unsecure. Upon completion, Lt. Jesberger was very thorough in his inspection to make sure all mistakes were processed and change orders submitted and the work completed before we fully signed off on the project.

Nominated by: Det. Sgt. Peter Gimyser

In late March 2024, PO Kaufman took a theft complaint from the Nicholas Recreation Center that occurred during a basketball tournament. At the time, he was on field training. He asked the Investigative Services Sergeant and his PTO for permission to continue to do follow up on the case, and he was allowed to do so. He reviewed a large amount of video surveillance footage to identify the person responsible. He put together a poster which was distributed to UWPD and MAPD, but he did not get any responses.

Over the course of three months, PO Kaufman persevered with his investigation to identify the suspect as time permitted while assigned to day shift patrol. He contacted staff from the Nicholas Recreation Center, the State Basketball Championship Tournament Director, Madison School District, Dane County Communication Center, and Madison Police Department for leads on the suspect’s identity and current address. PO Kaufman checked several addresses with negative results.

In late June 2024, the suspect contacted PO Kaufman after hearing he was looking for him. PO Kaufman recovered the stolen item from the suspect and wrapped up his investigation by issuing the suspect a citation for theft and offering them Community Restorative Court (CRC).

PO Kaufman went above and beyond on this investigation and did not give up after the multiple setbacks while trying to identify the suspect.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

On September 4, 2024, Police Officers Adam Koss and Jenson Lee were dispatched to the Class of 1918 Marsh regarding a woman who was stuck in the marsh — she was injured and could not get out by herself. ​

The woman could not be found initially as she was so deep into the marsh. Officers on foot, vehicle, and motorcycle searched for her but could not locate her. Officer Lee utilized his drone, which is eventually how the female was located. From the technology on the drone and Officer Lee’s experience, he communicated with Officer Koss her exact location, which unfortunately was in the middle of the marsh.

The female had a broken elbow and was unable to get out by herself. Officer Koss entered the marsh and made his way to the female. The condition of the marsh was not ideal for rescue operations as the water was waist high, muddy, and full of vegetation. This did not stop Officer Koss, as he entered the marsh and was able to extract the female without hesitation or causing further injury. Officer Lee then transported the female to the downtown area.

The actions of these Officers are commendable and they both acted without hesitation in a very undesirable situation. The female was completely stranded and likely would have sustained further injury, or worse, if she was not found and rescued from the marsh.

Nominated by: Dir. Tracey Berman

The HR Team has had a record year in processing hires, promotions, and reassignments.  There was a record 65 employees who have been hired, promoted, or reassigned in 2024.  The HR Team has also set record numbers, coordinating and processing 24+ hiring processes, 73 backgrounds, and 20 resignations or retirements.  The background packet was updated and improved for ease, and made into a fillable format. They worked diligently on hiring process improvements and created a shorter timeline for Security Officer positions and offered evening, night and weekend interviewing hours and virtual options to ensure multiple options were available to ensure UWPD doesn’t miss out on top talent.

The team has processed, followed up, and managed 77 FMLA/DDR/worker’s compensation cases in 2024 while balancing all the other tasks of their positions.  The team also went above and beyond with Annual Benefit enrollment, following up with each individual, ensuring employees’ needs and questions were met.

Team members contributed and helped create the campus pilot program for Stay and Exit Interviews, improving tools and experiences for employees.  The team also enhanced payroll processing methods and communication, ensuring employees’ time was entered and approved on time with minimal errors.  Some of these duties are part of their normal work roles, however, the HR Team goes above and beyond providing excellent customer service, goes out of their way to fix or correct any issues, ensures employees’ needs are exceeded, and it’s all above their position responsibilities.

Note: The Awards Committee Added Dir. Berman to this award nomination

Nominated by: Capt. Cherise Caradine

On October 26, 2024, the Badgers were hosting Penn State at a night game at Camp Randall stadium.  During this match-up, IT Specialist Andrew Monk was operating a UWPD drone, providing support and intel on the stadium perimeter.  Monk was piloting a drone equipped with camera technology that identifies heat signatures due to the nighttime conditions.

Monk was observing the fenced and closed construction area of the former Shell that was currently being demolished when he observed four heat signatures moving toward the stadium in the darkness.  Monk trained the drone camera on the figures as they approached the stadium and checked in with command.

IS Specialist Ian Hundt noted the area of the four figures in the construction area as they attempted and then gained access to the stadium.  Hundt’s familiarity with their location and cameras allowed him to quickly find the four male subjects as they entered the firelane, bypassing any security measures.  Hundt was able to pause the camera to obtain a picture of all four men to share with police staff inside the stadium.  Hundt continued to attempt to locate the four males as they moved toward the student section.

Capt Jason Whitney was aware of the situation while staffing the Stadium Operations Center and received the picture of the subjects. Using good, old-fashioned technology, Capt Whitney was able to use binoculars to find the four male subjects. The trespassers had blended in among the 70,000 other fans dressed in red and had made their way into Student Section P. Police were dispatched to their location to contact them and bring them to the Police Center.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

​On the early morning of July 4, 2024, there was a severe vehicle crash at Tennyson Lane and Packers Avenue in the City of Madison. As first responders were en route and arrived on scene, it was quickly determined this was a vehicular homicide. Other occupants/suspects of the vehicle fled on foot following the crash, leaving a passenger inside the vehicle. Dozens of law enforcement personnel were requested to assist in locating the suspects — including UWPD Sgt. Mulvey.

​Sgt. Mulvey assisted with this investigation as he is a certified UAS (drone) operator with the FAA and the UWPD Drone Unit. Sgt. Mulvey responded in emergency mode to help locate the suspects of this incident via drone. This was Sgt. Mulvey’s first field deployment of the drone and he successfully located several suspects. The strategic use of the drone provided real-time intelligence that significantly enhanced the tactical operations for this incident. Sgt. Mulvey conducted a comprehensive aerial search, covering a wide area in close proximity to the Dane County Airport with precision and efficiency. His adept handling of the drone’s capabilities, including high resolution imaging, and thermal detection was instrumental in identifying the suspects’ location.

Sgt. Mulvey’s quick thinking and expert maneuvering of the drone allowed continuous surveillance, ensuring the suspects’ movements were closely monitored. This crucial information enabled officers on the ground to coordinate the apprehension of suspects without incident. Sgt. Mulvey’s actions were remarkable. This was an invaluable contribution to the investigation and eventual apprehension of several suspects of a violent crime.

Nominated by: Sgt. Meg Hamilton

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, Officer Ryan Pharo was sent to Sellery Hall for a report of a sexual assault. It was reported that a 14-year-old youth camper attending a summer music camp was repeatedly inappropriately touched by someone at the camp. Officer Pharo approached this investigation with diligence and empathy for the camp directors (who were the reporting parties, and deeply impacted), the survivor (who was visibly shaking during the interview), and the parents of the 14-year-old, who were at times highly emotional and sometimes lashed out verbally at Officer Pharo.

Officer Pharo interviewed the victim in this case, and was kind, thorough, and empowering. He clearly outlined options for the survivor. The survivor immediately knew, and said, that she did not want the youth arrested. Officer Pharo provided her with resources, and then navigated next steps with the camp directors. Ultimately, it was determined that the youth could not stay at camp. When Officer Pharo spoke with the youth’s parents, the 14-year-old’s mother screamed at him and hung up. Officer Pharo had to wait an exceptionally long time for the mother to come to the residence hall where the camp was being hosted. When the mother arrived, she used profanity towards officers, and was physically and verbally aggressive.

Officer Pharo remained professional and composed throughout the suspect’s mother’s insulting and pseudo-threatening outbursts.

Sexual assault investigations can be viscerally intense, and all parties on this investigation were deeply impacted, which manifested in emotional responses across a wide range. Officer Pharo represented our agency exceedingly well, and it was clear that he met the survivor where she was and treated every person with dignity and respect. His actions merit formal commendation.

Nominated by: Security Supervisor Theresa Waage

​While off-duty and driving into work, Security Officer Kirk Robinson was first on the scene of a high-speed motorcycle accident in which the driver was not wearing a helmet. SO Robinson has prior EMT experience, so he stepped out of his car to assist.

Robinson called 911 and held the victim, trying to keep him still, until emergency services responded. The cyclist was severely injured and was eventually transported to the UW Hospital Trauma Center. Robinson called UWPD to report he may be late for his shift due to the traffic back-up.

SO Robinson reported for his shift and continued his responsibilities as a UWPD Security Officer.

Nominated by: Sgt. Meg Hamilton

Sgt Shaw was invited to speak at Community Restorative Court’s 10-year anniversary celebration, which occurred September 17, 2024. I hoped to attend but was not able to, so I later asked CRC supervisor Stephanie Marino how the event had gone. In that email, Stephanie shared powerful words about her entire team’s response to Sgt Shaw’s speech. Stephanie’s email is one I will be keeping for the rest of my police career, as a powerful example of how one good police officer – in this case, one police sergeant – can create positive and lasting change. See direct quotes below from Stephanie’s correspondence to me, regarding Sgt Shaw’s speech:

“I found his honesty very moving. Most folks are usually too prideful to admit that they judge others incorrectly sometimes and for him to humble himself and hold himself accountable to a distorted belief, and then follow his changed mindset to the end, will leave such a positive impact on the Respondent, the perception of law enforcement, and the people they encounter moving forward.  It’s those little things that bear fruit and help more than just one life. I spoke with him after the event and shared that I was impacted by his testimony.  I think his story represents the heart of CRC and is the change in mindset we desperately need to see in the world.” – Michele J.

“Ian Shaw is a wonderful police officer who, with his charisma and kind actions, has the unique ability to connect with individuals he encounters. His genuine approach allows him to reach people on a deeper level, and his heartfelt words show his commitment to positive change. During his speech, Ian spoke from the heart, acknowledging the progress made while emphasizing that there is still more to be done, especially when it comes to referring people to the program. His dedication and authenticity truly shone through, making him an inspiring and remarkable figure.” – Teresa T.

“Sgt. Shaw’s testimonial was powerful and authentic.  Having someone in law enforcement believe in our program so strongly brings me so much joy and makes me so proud to work here.  He spoke so eloquently and you couldn’t help but listen to every word.  In speaking with him afterwards he was so kind and thoughtful.  I’m grateful he was there and felt it made a huge impact on everyone.” – Riley B.

“Sgt Shaw’s testimonial was extremely powerful and demonstrated how law enforcement and CRC can really work hand in hand.  Sgt Shaw was able to see firsthand the healing, support and transformation that can occur in the circle process .  I felt a wave of emotions hearing Sgt Shaw’s experience, most importantly the feeling of hope.” – Rebecca R.

Nominated by: Det. Sgt. Peter Grimyser

On March 13, 2024, a controversial speaker was scheduled to speak in a building on the UW-Madison campus. On the day of the event, Detective Kyle Van Haren checked social media for threats to the event. While searching, he found an unknown subject had posted several comments leading up to the day of the event in the public comments of a social media site. The subject posted several comments that were threatening in nature and mentioned violence.

Det. Van Haren used his investigative skills to file four exigent disclosure request forms with the social media company, an email provider, and two phone/internet providers. With that information, Det. Van Haren was able to identify the account holder and establish their identity as the subject. Det. Van Haren used the data and information from other investigative databases to establish that the subject resided in a county adjacent to Dane County and less than an hour from the UW-Madison campus.

Det. Van Haren shared the information with Det. Matthew Shaw — Det. Shaw took the information, and with the assistance of a local law enforcement agency, they contacted the subject at the subject’s home. Det. Shaw conducted an interview with the subject and learned they were not a threat to the event or speaker, did not own or possess any firearms, nor did they plan on attending the event.

Det. Van Haren and Det. Shaw identified a threat to an event, identified the subject, and contacted the subject to establish there was no ill intent in a matter of hours. Because of their work, the event could go on without any problems.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

On the evening of December 9, 2024, a vehicle fled from a UWPD officer attempting to conduct a traffic stop in the downtown area. The vehicle was abandoned near the Charter Heating Plant, and officers began an extensive search to locate the suspect, which included a K9 track. UWPD Dispatch was tasked with reviewing security camera footage and disseminating suspect photograph(s) to on-scene personnel to assist in apprehension. At the time, LED Chris Linssen and LED Jason Smith were working in the Communication Center.

While reviewing footage, LED Linssen observed a male near the abandoned vehicle and began conducting additional security camera playback and review. The K9 track eventually ended without success.

Patrol officers stopped their extensive search and planned to contact the owner in the City of Madison. However, LED Linssen and Smith persisted with security camera review, which proved crucial in this investigation. LED Linssen observed the same suspect inside the Discovery Building almost two hours after the initial traffic stop was attempted. LED Linssen advised officers, which led to the safe apprehension of the suspect. ​The suspect was charged with felony eluding and several other traffic offenses.

The diligence of these dispatchers is the primary reason the suspect was arrested. Both dispatchers went above and beyond the expectations of their role and assisted tremendously.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

For more than three years, Kaitlyn Abbott, UW Resident Life Coordinator (Lakeshore), has made exceptional contributions to our efforts on campus. Officer Arbay noted that he has witnessed firsthand the positive impact she has had on our campus community, particularly in strengthening the Housing Liaison Program between residence life and our department. Kaitlyn has demonstrated unwavering commitment and professionalism in her role. Her proactive approach to fostering collaboration and communication between residence life and UWPD has been instrumental in creating a safer and more supportive environment for our students.  She has diligently worked to build a robust liaison program that ensures timely and effective responses to any issues that arise from our community.

Through her efforts, Kaitlyn has worked with UWPD to implement several initiatives that have significantly improved operations, partnership, and trust from our community. She has organized joint training sessions, facilitated regular meetings and scheduled many community events for the Lakeshore dorms. Her dedication to fostering this culture of mutual respect and cooperation has also increased the sense of security and well-being among students residing on campus.

Her tireless efforts have not only strengthened the UWPD Housing Liaison program but have set a standard of excellence that inspires several of those who work alongside her. Kaitlyn embodies the values of our university and serves as an exemplary model of dedication, professionalism, and compassion.

Nominated by: Sgt. Jake Lepper

​On March 6, 2024, a broken candle caused a significant fire in a Sellery Hall room. A desk, shelving unit, clothing, and various other materials caught fire. The residents of the room got locked out of their room when they went to seek help. Yuhao “Perry” Chen was the Housefellow for the floor. Chen secured a fire extinguisher, opened the room, and extinguished the fire before it became a significant threat to others in the building. Chen’s actions are commendable and prevented further harm to people or property.

Nominated by: Law Enforcement Dispatch Manager LeAnn Krieg

Mark O’Neill and Elizabeth Curran both work for DoIT in Network Services and play an integral role in maintaining our 911 system, including troubleshooting issues, brainstorming solutions, and following up with vendors when necessary. They also assist with incidents involving nuisance callers — including swatting calls — which have increased significantly over the past few years. They respond quickly after hours and work diligently to resolve issues in a timely manner.

Mark and Elizabeth also play a role in managing our emergency phones, Manitou alarms, and the upcoming Next Generation 911 upgrades. They are committed to safety, our work, and ensuring 911 access is always available on campus. They are knowledgeable, reliable, and easy to work with.

Nominated by: Police Officer Derek Johnson

On Dec. 18, 2024, at approximately 11 p.m., a patient was released from the University Hospital Emergency Department after being previously evaluated for mental health. The patient had previously climbed to the top of the Lot 63 parking ramp and stood on the ledge — he was escorted back to the ED for further evaluation. Upon the second release, the patient again went to the top level of the parking ramp and again stood on the ledge.

UW Health Security and UWPD were dispatched to respond to assist the patient. Upon UWPD arrival, Security had already escorted the patient off the ledge and was returning to the ED for further medical care.

Nominated by: Security Supervisor Andy Kinzler

Tara Genske is a Guest Services Specialist working at the Welcome Desk in the Student Athlete Performance Center at Camp Randall Stadium for over 10 years — she’s responsible for the frontline management of a facility that services hundreds of UW student athletes and athletics staff every day.  Her unique way of greeting guests, answering phones, and providing pertinent information to others ensures the safety of hundreds of student athletes and staff that use the facility daily — whether they know it or not.

Although the term “security” may not appear in her position description, it’s always at the front of her mind. She works in conjunction with the UWPD Athletics Security unit to achieve facility security goals. On many occasions, Tara has gone above and beyond in her role to ensure that student-athletes and staff have a safe environment to work and thrive.

Tara’s input and experience helped the UWPD Athletics Security unit make informed decisions concerning facility visitor policies and procedures.  These decisions led to introducing an automated visitor management system to three separate athletic facilities on campus.  Tara was very helpful in ensuring compliance with the new visitor system policies and procedures.

Tara quickly reports areas of concern to Athletics Security that could become major security issues, such as propped or open doors, hazardous conditions, and potentially unauthorized individuals inside the facility. Because of Tara’s quick action, several security breaches and issues were avoided.

Tara is a true professional, and many of her efforts to maintain safety and security at our athletics facilities go unnoticed. We thank Tara for her willingness to partner with UWPD and her commitment to the safety of the student-athletes she serves.

Nominated by: Police Officer Dani Broesch

On June 7, 2024, ​James Harrod stopped for an individual who was sitting on the fourth floor ledge of Lot 75 contemplating jumping.  Tarbet pointed out that many others drove by him and didn’t stop.  Harrod stopped and checked on Tarbet.  Harrod knew something was wrong and called UWPD for help. While Officer Dani Broesch was talking to the subject to get him off the ledge, he asked to speak to Harrod again, as they had developed a rapport.

Officer Broesch facilitated this interaction and Harrod was a big reason why the subject was led safely off the ledge for medical treatment.

Nominated by: Capt. Jason Whitney

Dr. Jake Hurlbutt and Dr. Matt Koester have been great partners in expanding UWPD’s wellness program. The implementation of Onward Physical Therapy has been a huge success. Our employees have had nothing but positive feedback about the program. Participation has been exceptional, with UWPD filling almost all time slots over the first year of this program.

Matt and Jake had a vision and were looking to work closely with first responders on wellness, offering cupping, massage, PT, and much more. Matt and Jake were very flexible and understood the complex schedule of a 24/7 operation and were willing to do what was necessary to accommodate all UWPD employees.

While difficult to measure, we’ve received feedback from several UWPD personnel who have overcome minor injuries and long-term, nagging problems. They’ve even gone above and beyond, working outside of normal UWPD scheduled times to help with urgent situations.

We’re thankful for our partnership and thank Dr. Matt and Dr. Jake for helping make UWPD a healthier, pain-free place!

Nominated by: Capt. Jason Whitney and AVIS Supervisor Patrick Bucci

Leon Nel and Jim Thompson have been exceptional partners as we worked through the campus access control project. From the beginning, they’ve been integral to its success.

Leon, Jim, and staff are always available to assist, prompt with responses and supply of materials, and are thorough in making sure that the system was transitioned and programmed in accordance with our request.  Leon and Jim have integrated themselves into the team at UWPD and campus as a whole, and have taken the time to learn the climate and culture. In short, we’re more than “just another project.”  Leon and Jim have been there, from their involvement in the RFP process to their organization, coordination with partners all across campus, and support and assistance when aspects of the project scope evolved and changes were needed.  Without their work, the system would not have evolved from where it was with Andover.

The completed system has catapulted UWPD’s ability to keep campus safe by creating an incredibly strong security foundation on which we will continue to grow and develop for many years beyond the end of the project.

Nominated by: Capt. Mark Silbernagel

Todd Nelson’s time as the Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Event Operations at UW Madison was the epitome of leading by example and the tough, hard-working blue-collar “get things done” attitude that has been the hallmark of success for so many UW Athletic Department teams and programs.

Over his 24 years of dedicated service to the University of Wisconsin, Todd developed his own winning team of event managers and the many internal and external stakeholders required to make Athletic events successful. Todd had a profound impact on my development as a Special Events Lieutenant — and the others before and after me would say the same. He proactively provided guidance, assistance, partnership, and friendship. His leadership style, attention to detail, being prepared for the best/worst, and going above and beyond were the standards we all attempted to achieve.

Todd significantly impacted the culture of those who have worked for him and with him. He constantly emphasized integrity, professionalism, doing the right thing for the right reason, constant quality improvement/learning, hard work, being well prepared, and having the ability to say “no”.  Even though he has left to pursue another opportunity, which he will certainly excel at, he left a strong legacy, which will remain for a long time. UWPD has been incredibly fortunate to work with him and his team to be prepared for anything and everything.

Todd always says that people make the difference — that’s true for him, too. He certainly made a huge difference for UWPD, UW Athletics, UW Madison, and everyone who attended Athletics events.

Nominated by: Cindy Blankenship & Capt. Jason Whitney

Suzanne Schlecht has been a key partner to UWPD for our budget operations.  In her campus role, she is our liaison for budgets for the access control unit and camera unit. Over the last year, Suzanne has played a key role in helping UWPD develop a 10-year operating budget for the campus security camera program.  Without her accounting, spreadsheet, and analyzing skills, UWPD would not have been able to complete this project. Suzanne’s knowledge of campus/state budget operations was key in the success of developing this critical budget.  Suzanne has used data provided by UWPD, DoIT, and FP&M for the last several years and has made forecasts to keep the program running for several years.

Suzanne’s skills resulted in a highly effective and streamlined system that not only enhances financial planning, but also ensures greater accuracy and efficiency in resources.  Suzanne model created a clear structure and reflected her deep understanding of both UWPD’s needs and the complexities of budgeting.

Her contribution to this project will undoubtedly improve financial oversight and decision- making — paving the way for our long-term success.

Nominated by: Sgt. Jake Lepper

​On 8/16/24, Officers responded to a report of a pulseless, non-breathing subject at 103 N Randall Avenue. Sgt. Nicki Zautner and PO Derek Austin responded to the scene.

Sgt Zautner and PO Austin assisted paramedics in providing the patient with lifesaving efforts. The patient was provided CCR, and the defibrillator administered a number of shocks. While on the scene, the subject was conscious and able to speak with officers and medics before being transported to the hospital.

The officer’s actions knowingly and directly contributed to saving a life.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

Sergeant Meg Hamilton and Manager Danielle Bridges have done outstanding work organizing the department’s recent Night Shift Wellness Retreat. This event went above and beyond to address the unique challenge of working law enforcement, especially on the night shift, and had a strong focus on improving mental health, managing stress, and promoting overall well-being. ​

Their dedication to this event was evident in every detail. They brought in a variety of mindfulness resources, including guided meditation sessions, stress-relief exercises, and other wellness tools, that truly impacted our team. The retreat provided an invaluable opportunity for us to recharge — both mentally and physically, which is especially important for those who work during unconventional hours.

The event’s success was reflected not only in the high turnout, but also in positive feedback from participants. Many of us have seen an improvement in stress management and overall morale since attending this retreat. Segt. Hamilton and Mgr. Bridges showed exceptional leadership, thoughtfulness, and commitment to the well-being of our team, and I believe their efforts deserve special recognition.

Dr. Bridges and Sergeant Hamilton created the Night Shift Wellness Retreat after presenting it to the ELT for approval. Both brought in several presenters for the retreat, which required planning and coordination not only for the event but also for patrol coverage so night shift workers could attend.

Nominated by: Lt. Jeff Ellis

Nominated by: Capt. Jason Whitney

After the full implementation of the access control system on campus, Patrick identified the need for a manual for staff to reference with the new system. Staff who touch the Lenel system every day did not have access or training on how to manage the programs.

Dispatch and Security were the units most impacted by this new system. Patrick proactively developed a user guide for both units to assist them in troubleshooting and managing operations, especially during after-hours operations when no one from the AVIS unit can be reached.

Without this manual, UWPD’s overall customer service would be impacted. If we can’t get researchers into buildings, significant loss could occur. Emergency operations without access would also be impacted after hours without staff knowing how to manage the system.

Patrick has been a key member of the AVIS unit and continues to lead each day, being proactive and taking steps to improve the overall infrastructure security on campus.

Nominated by: Dir. Suzanne Brandt

During his first year with UWPD, Robert Maier took on the lead role in completely revamping of our Emergency Operations Center at UW-Madison. This is a major change and will have a positive impact on how we are able to support emergency response at UW-Madison.

Robert’s work took countless hours of research, writing, and collaboration with the university’s stakeholders and our community partners.

His work was integral in proposing and implementing this new in​initiative.

Nominated by: Dir. Tracey Berman

The IT team identified recurring issues for second and third shift employees when the IT staff was unavailable. To address this, the team created a plan to rotate team members onto evening/night shifts to provide in-person support.

While this required adjusting their schedules, the IT team prioritized departmental needs over personal preferences, greatly improving support and relationships with second and third shift employees.

Their commitment has been appreciated by staff, and for their dedication, I nominate them for this award.

Nominated by: Police Officer Jeff Kirchman

As a student intern, Brock Prough was instrumental in reinvigorating and eventually completing a stalled project that significantly improved address accuracy in the UW-Arboretum.

In 2021, I began an initiative to update addresses for all UW-Madison Arboretum buildings and parking lots, after discovering significant discrepancies and errors in the existing addresses. Many buildings and important features of the Arboretum also had no addresses assigned. For such a large property, this was problematic in many ways. There were situations in the past where inaccurate address information resulted in emergency responders being sent to incorrect areas and delaying critical services. After more than two years of effort and modest success, progress ground to a halt as the necessary parties outside the Arboretum and UWPD reduced their engagement in the project.

Nominated by: Dir. Suzanne Brandt

Megan has gone above and beyond to learn and train in this area so that she can continue to increase her expertise. In the last year, she attended numerous specialty trainings and became a member of the Dane County Critical Incident/Mass Violence Response Team.​

Nominated by: Security Officer Julian Flores

On November 6, 2024, while assisting SS Mark Barnaba with locking the Humanities building, Lead Security Officer Mackenzie Truitt and SS Barnaba encountered an unauthorized person occupying the building past business hours. While escorting the individual out of the building and waiting for police officers to arrive to cite the individual, Security Officer Truitt noticed a bouquet of flowers that had been dropped off in a peculiar area on the 3rd floor. Security Officer Truitt, of her own volition, decided to investigate further and discovered that the flower bouquet was a present from a father to their daughter (a UW Student) and erroneously delivered to the Humanities building as supposed to the daughter’s residence hall.

Security Officer Truitt decided, while waiting for police to arrive to cite the individual, to reach out to the student via Facebook Messenger and inform them of the gift that had been misdelivered. Security Officer Truitt maintained appropriate boundaries and limits of their authority with the bouquet recipient, and explained that they unfortunately couldn’t leave the area and deliver them, but would be more than willing to relocate them to an easy-to-find area for them to retrieve. The recipient eventually would collect their bouquet, and expressed her gratitude towards Security Officer Truitt, who, without their help, would mean the bouquet would be ruined or taken by someone else.

This act of community service was not an isolated event for Security Officer Truitt. She has also assisted students by helping a food delivery robot on Bascom Hill during a particularly slippery evening. When she witnessed the robot having difficulty gaining traction to traverse up the hill, she gave it a push!

Though seemingly small events and encounters, the outcomes of these acts meant more than meets the eye. Small acts of community service can have more significant results than we may never know of.

Nominated by: Sgt. Adam Prescott

Hello AP,

I hope you are doing well! My name is Kaitlyn Abbott, and I am the Residence Life Coordinator for Dejope and Phillips. I wanted to take a second to highlight Officer Devan Arbay as our UWPD Liaison for the community! I have worked with Devan since the revival of the UWPD liaison program and he has been amazing since day one. Devan has gone above and beyond to make efforts to get to know the House Fellows in Dejope/Phillips and frequently, with permission of course, attends our weekly staff meetings. He has essentially become a member of our community due to his care and compassion for the staff. I believe that due to this, in turn, has helped with our resident relations with UWPD as the residents of Dejope/Phillips know who Devan is and the purpose of his role.

In addition, he has done several programs with us with record attendance! Earlier this semester, we did one with over 450 students showing up. The other program this semester we had over 200 students in attendance. It is rare to have such high attendance at programs. I know that sometimes bridging the gap between the police and res life is not always easy, however, Devan has flawlessly done this due to his dedication to the liaison program. The House Fellows and I truly appreciate Devan and what he has brought to the liaison program, so I wanted to pass our praise along to you.

– Residence Life Coordinator

Nominated by: Capt. Jason Whitney

On September 18, 2024, UWPD hosted its first-ever open house, welcoming students, faculty, staff, and community members to connect, learn, and engage with the department in a relaxed and welcoming setting. The event was designed to foster relationships, increase awareness of UWPD’s resources, and reaffirm the department’s commitment to campus safety.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors enjoyed various food trucks while engaging in informal conversations with UWPD personnel. Over 30 UWPD staff members participated in the event, each eager to share their expertise and discuss the department’s wide range of services.

​These employees were instrumental in this event’s success. They coordinated several specialty units, having items on display, food, location and parking lot usage, volunteers, and advertisements.

The number of people in attendance far exceeded goals. The inaugural open house was a resounding success, creating an interactive and engaging environment where the campus community could ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of public safety efforts at UW-Madison. This event set the foundation for future engagement opportunities, strengthening UWPD’s relationship with those it serves while reinforcing its mission to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive campus environment.

Nominated by: Sgt. Jake Lepper

In Sgt. Hamilton”s first full year at UWPD, she immediately took it upon herself to both improve UWPD’s relationships with community groups and to expand internal knowledge of community resources. She created the “Partners and Resources” initiative, inviting various community groups, internal subject matter experts, and partner agencies to present information regarding their topic or service during UWPD briefings. In 2024 so far, Hamilton organized 19 different briefing events:

• March 20^th, Safe Communities
• March 27, PO Brnusak on “Wayfinding” at University Hospital
• April 17^th, 988
• April 24^th: WiCares presentation (invitation extended by, and training facilitated by, Sgt Lepper)
• May 15^th, Central CPT’s Jane Preston: Vending Cart Enforcement at 4pm and 9pm briefings
• May 29^th, CARES
• June 5^th, Madison Street Medicine
• June 12^th, Focused Interruption
• July 2^nd, Railway Safety (presented by Kyleah Carruthers)
• July 10^th, Journey (presented by Sarah Henrickson)
• July 29^th, WPPA (presented by Roger Palek)
• August 7^th Catholic Multicultural Center site visit, hosted by Director Becca Schwartz
• September 4^th Nicole Odom digital forensic capabilities
• September 12^th Wounded Warrior
• September 18^th Peer Support Team: resilience techniques featuring Officer Kirchman
• October 16^th Badger Recovery
• October 17^th World Mental Health Day, “Wellness at Work” theme: resilience speaker Krista Luedtke (PTSD, suicide prevention)
• October 23^rd LED Kat Ryan, human trafficking
• November 20^th MG&E, Electrical Safety for 1^st Responders​

Sgt. Hamilton plans to add an additional partner to even the list at 20 before the end of 2024. Her efforts undoubtedly created sustained and exceptional community relations which enhanced the service UWPD employees provide and increased the safety of the entire campus community. Her efforts are deserving of a community service commendation. ​

Nominated by: LEDS LeAnn Krieg

LED Kat Ryan attended the Crime Information Bureau (CIB) conference last fall. When she returned, she was asked to present to patrol on what she learned in the session on Human Trafficking. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there have been 1,640 victims in Wisconsin since 2007.

The data and information inspired LEDS Veirs and LED Ryan to want to do something to give back — especially knowing that shortly before that one of our officers had had contact with someone that was firmly believed to be a victim of human trafficking, but was unwilling to admit to it. From there, they put together the “Dignity Bag Project.” Knowing many of the victims give up a lot or all of their personal property — including identification, cell phone, and any self-care items — they determined that the thing we realistically could immediately provide them were the self-care items. LEDS Veirs donated some lightweight tie bags to be filled with donated personal hygiene supplies, such as toothpaste, body wipes, deodorant, etc. Also in the back is a printed card with area resources. These bags are placed in the squads, and if an officer comes into contact with someone they believe to be in need, they can give them the bag. These bags can be given not only to those who are at risk of human trafficking, but also to victims of domestic violence, or someone simply struggling.

LEDS Veirs reached out to PO Lema-Hernandez to coordinate this project with other community outreach we do, and they established a plan to share some supplies and storage space. LEDS Veirs and LED Ryan coordinated the donations and put all of the bags together.

This project is above and beyond what is required in their day-to-day work, and shows compassion for our community.

Nominated by: Security Supervisor Theresa Waage

Security Supervisor Mark Barnaba observed that several newly hired officers had difficulty mastering the locking patterns for certain complex campus buildings. Taking the initiative and recognizing a problem, SS Barnaba created detailed locking sheets to assist them. He personally wrote out the step-by-step instructions, laminated the cards and distributed them to security officers. As a result of his efforts, the new officers successfully completed their training without further challenges.

Nominated by: Dir. Tracey Berman

​The camera budget for the UW-Madison campus model has been the same since the program’s inception around 2014.  Alec and Cindy identified that this model was no longer sustainable for the future of the program.

They both worked diligently with UWPD budget liaison Suzanne Schlecht, VCFA staff, budgeting staff, and a core group of UWPD staff members to create a sustainable and improved model moving forward.  The new budget model encompasses the campus funding model as well as an updated campus policy to ensure a fiscally stable project moving forward.

This was an incredibly challenging task, requiring working with multiple different campus partners and obtaining adequate central funding moving forward. Alec and Cindy were committed to ensuring the project’s future fiscal sustainability.

This is above and beyond their daily work responsibilities.

Nominated by: LEDS Jonathan Gonring

In early October 2024, LED Kim Brunner was assigned to lead the Manitou alarm updating project.  In conjunction with LEDS Gonring, a building distribution list was developed in a Gantt Chart to account for each alarm monitored on the system.  Further planning was completed to provide training to other LEDs assigned to assist with contacting community stakeholders, and updating the alarms entered into Manitou.

In mid-October, LED Brunner began training LED Cameron Handel on the new process, to begin contacting stakeholders to verify and update alarm response information for those buildings assigned to him.

Over the next 10 weeks, LED Brunner and Handel contacted 34 different buildings and stakeholders on campus. This group confirmed and updated information on over 1000 alarm points associated with these buildings, including the appropriate response to the alarm and current contact information for responsible officials.

Since completing this project, LED Brunner has been working in tandem with LED Cederquist on an annual updating process, to occur in the first quarter of each year. This process ensures the accuracy of alarms on the Manitou System while reducing redundant contact between systems.  ​

Nominated by: LEDS Jonathan Gonring

On September 2, 2024, LED Charles Cederquist was assigned to lead the Metasys alarm updating project.  In conjunction with LEDS Gonring, a building distribution list was developed in a Gantt Chart to account for each alarm monitored on the system.  Further planning was completed to train other LEDs assigned to contact community stakeholders, update the alarms entered into the CAD, and provide editing privileges on Metasys.

The following week, LED Cederquist began training LED Adrian Vera on the new process for contacting stakeholders to verify and update alarm response information. Similarly, upon LED Carruthers’ return, he provided the same training to allow her to make similar contacts with those buildings assigned to her.

Throughout the next 10 weeks, LED Cederquist, Carruthers, and Vera contacted 101 different buildings and stakeholders on campus. This group confirmed and updated information on 285 alarms associated with these buildings, including the appropriate response to the alarm and current contact information for responsible officials.

Since completing this project, LED Cederquist has been working on an annual updating process, to occur in the first quarter of each year, to ensure the accuracy of alarms on this system.

Nominated by: Security Supervisor Theresa Waage

​Security Officer Julian Flores took the initiative to create a dynamic spreadsheet for his peers to reference while on duty. The spreadsheet detailed door and building hours for every time of day.

SO Veras proactively contacted each building manager to verify the accuracy of the listed hours. This resource enabled security officers to make informed decisions about who to contact for clarification and streamlined their workflow.

His efforts were not easy — and the results not only facilitated communication with building managers, but also enhanced access control by ensuring accurate operational hour details.

Nominated by: Police Officer Devan Arbay

Officer Cunningham embodies the qualities of a truly exceptional law enforcement professional: unwavering dedication, proactivity, humility, and leadership by example. His contributions to our department, campus, and overall community have been remarkable.

From his early days in the academy, Connor demonstrated a natural commitment to excellence and willingness to learn, and he has carried those qualities into every stage of his career. He is someone who consistently goes above and beyond to fulfill his duty to the community. As his mentor, it has been incredibly rewarding to see him not only achieve personal success but also inspire and lead his peers through his example.

Throughout 2024, Officer Cunningham consistently demonstrated a proactive approach to public safety, setting a new standard of excellence within our department. His efforts have resulted in dozens of OWI and criminal arrests, the seizure of multiple illegal firearms/weapons, seizing large quantities of illicit narcotics, and the disruption of criminal activities which posed significant risks to our campus. Officer Cunningham has played a direct role in making the UW-Madison community a safer place for everyone.

Officer Cunningham’s impact extends beyond his own achievements. He has been a catalyst for positive change within the department, encouraging his peers to adopt a proactive mindset and approach their work with renewed vigor. His ability to inspire and lead without seeking recognition underscores his role as a silent leader among his colleagues. Despite his numerous accomplishments, he remains humble, respectful, and deeply committed to the mission of our department.

His actions have made a lasting impact on the department and the community, and he is truly deserving of this recognition.

Nominated by: Security Supervisor Theresa Waage & Security Officer Mackenzie Truitt

Security Supervisor Mark Barnaba is a motivated, dedicated leader who consistently goes above and beyond in his role, making a significant impact on his team, department, and community.

His leadership is exemplary — fostering a culture of teamwork, professionalism and excellence. He consistently demonstrates a true dedication to the mission of the UW-Madison Police Department. He is known to always arrive early to his shift, and he’s often the last one to leave. He’s the epitome of a true leader and is a true asset to our department.

Supervisor Barnaba continuously goes above and beyond and is always willing to help – even when he’s not at work. He treats us as if we’re his own family. From helping co-workers move, to helping me with school, and even giving tax advice, Supervisor Barnaba is always there to support his team.

He’s affectionately called “super dad” by his co-workers. But, it’s more than just a nickname — to us, he really is a dad. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing co-worker.

Nominated by: Law Enforcement Dispatch Supervisor Dawn Veirs

Over the last year, Kyleah has committed to revitalizing the 911 center’s public education project. She has networked with community partners, built connections with other public safety professionals, and has worked alongside our Community Officers, educating students and staff on 911 usage.

While taking on these various educational projects and initiatives, Kyleah has also taken on an active role as a member of APCO, the nation’s largest organization of public safety communication professionals. During her volunteer service to APCO, she was selected to chair the young professionals committee. She published an article in APCO’s magazine, encouraging her peers to effectively advocate for themselves, their industry, and their agencies so they’re provided with the tools they need to
succeed.

In addition to all of this, Kyleah consistently has a positive attitude and a smile. She is highly respected and regarded by everyone who has the pleasure of working with her. I am so proud of her accomplishments and her work here at UWPD, and in the telecommunications industry.

Nominated by: Capt. Cherise Caradine & Dir. Tracey Berman

Mandi’s excellence extends far beyond the scope of her IT responsibilities. In every aspect of her work, Mandi has shown an unwavering commitment to her colleagues and to the mission of the UW-Madison Police Department. She is more than an IT Manager; she is a mentor, a teacher, a first responder, and a lifeline to those in need.

Mandi has gone above and beyond to assist our UWPD Training Team. As a long-time certified CPR and AED instructor, she has played a crucial role in training both sworn and civilian department members, ensuring we are all equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to emergencies.

Mandi has also been instrumental in developing and implementing our emergency Narcan administration program. Through her hard work, she has helped establish policies, coordinate training, and oversee the maintenance of this life-saving initiative. Her efforts in this area have undoubtedly made a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of our community.

But her contributions don’t stop there. As many of you know, Mandi is also a trained EMT…and time and again, she has stepped in during moments of need to help evaluate employees or others in the building, offering guidance, and ensuring that the appropriate medical action is taken. Whether it is an employee requiring emergency transport or an officer feeling unwell in the Camp Randall Police Center, Mandi is the person we trust and turn to. She is not just a skilled professional; she is a compassionate and reliable presence in critical situations.

Her dedication to ensuring that UWPD staff are well-prepared, well-trained, and well-supported is truly inspiring.