The Green Bay Packers recognized several exemplary Wisconsin law enforcement officers for going above and beyond the call of duty with the Packers Protect & Serve Award.
The recipients received a special award and a $2,000 grant to benefit their department or a nonprofit. They were treated to a luncheon and an award presentation, as well as speeches from Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy, Packers alumnus Evan Smith, and Eau Claire County Sheriff Dave Riewestahl. Award winners attended with their family members, friends, fellow officers and superiors.
The winners of the individual awards, the K-9 award, the school resource officer award and the department award include:
- Deputy Leah Berg from the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office
- Sergeant Christopher Biese from the Appleton Police Department
- Deputy Jake Blum from the Dunn County Sheriff's Office
- Detective Craig Brey from the Green Bay Police Department
- Officer Alex Carlson from the Green Bay Police Department
- Deputy Jacob Colassaco with the Iron County Sheriff's Office previously with the Vilas County Sheriff's Office
- Conservation Warden Samuel Haferkorn from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Division of Public Safety and Resource Protection in the Milwaukee County area.
- Officer Taylor Justice from the Appleton Police Department
- Officer Daniel Morrell from the Milwaukee Police Department
- Detective Joe Teigen from the Grand Chute Police Department
- Officer Jason Tetrick from the Kenosha Police Department
- Deputy Alexander Wysocki from the Brown County Sheriff's Office
- K-9 Officer Puma and handler, Officer Tom Conley, from the Green Bay Police Department
- School Resource Officer Josh Gallagher from the Menasha Police Department
- Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office
The awards themselves, hand-crafted wooden American flags, were made by Oneida Police Sergeant Nathan Ness through his small business HomeLeeWoodWorking.
The Packers Protect & Serve Award is funded by the Packers and the NFL Foundation, with each award recipient receiving a $2,000 grant to benefit his or her department or a nonprofit with which they are involved.
The Packers Protect & Serve Award is part of Green Bay Packers Give Back, the Packers' all-encompassing community outreach initiative. Combined with other Green Bay Packers charity endeavors, the awards contribute to a comprehensive Packers charity impact that was in excess of $11 million last year.
