KEARNEY — Six members of the Kearney Police Department were presented with awards for their “heroic efforts and exceptional service” during the Kearney city council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Chief Bryan Waugh presented the awards that were based on recommendations from the Kearney Police Department (KPD) Awards/Recognition Committee.
Officers Zach Schwarz and Ben Dostal were presented with Certificates of Commendation.
Waugh said Schwarz and Dostal showed compassion and sensitivity while responding to an in-home death and took time on their day off to assist the family.
Officers Derek Payton, Chris Hughes, Joshua Stokey and Community Service Officer Seth VanHorn were presented with Life Saving Awards.
Waugh said Payton, Hughes and VanHorn helped to administer life saving care to an individual who experienced a medical emergency in public.
For Stokey, he responded to the report of a woman with suicidal ideation on the Yanney Heritage Park tower and was able to stop the woman from jumping from the edge, Waugh said.
