South Salt Lake Police Department Officer Brayden Osborne was recently named Officer of the Year at the department’s annual awards banquet. The award is presented to an officer who in his/her daily work shows exemplary service and dedication to his/her peers. The award recipient is chosen by the officer’s peers.

Osborne, who was hired by the department in April 2021, works in patrol and as a field training officer.

“Officer Osborne has continually excelled in that area [field training]. Not only has he excelled in helping in training, but he's also kind of our go-to officer for driving under the influence types of investigations,” Police Chief Danielle Croyle told the South Salt Lake Journal. “He is absolutely a leader in the organization, and even though he may not have the rank, he's a leader due to his work ethic, due to his just really doing good case work and doing a good job.”

Along with Osborne, several department members received awards at the banquet. 

Officer Alex Martinez received the Honorary Colonels Award. 

“Officer Alex Martinez consistently demonstrates his compassion and commitment by supporting victims of crime,” Matthew and Robyn Sims said at the banquet. 

For their work in responding to and diffusing a large unlawful gathering of more than 100 people at a local business on Aug. 31, 2024, Lieutenant Clayton Anderson, Sergeant Quinton Addison, Officer Zachery Atkin, Officer Michael Berry, Officer Jordon Branz, Officer Tanner Doria, Officer Cristian Felix, Officer Cristian Medel and Officer Zayne Ruth received the Chamber of Commerce Award.

The Mayor’s Spirit of Community Award was presented to Officer Jose Calvario. His “dedication to his duties, attention to detail, and willingness to step in wherever needed really highlights his commitment to the community and his colleagues. He maintains a strong work ethic while balancing different responsibilities,” Mayor Cherie Wood said at the event. “His role as a homeless resource officer is magnified with his extra effort to address concerns with compassion.” 

Honorary Colonel Fred Conlon responded quickly and initiated life-saving efforts, providing immediate assistance in a critical situation at a fatal traffic accident on Main Street. For his efforts he received the Public Service Award. (Conlon was unable to attend the awards ceremony).

Two groups of officers received the Blue Knight Medal: Officer Matthew Bartlett, Officer Tristin Ramos, Officer Quinten Hardman, Officer Kyle Mahoney and Officer Talon Strate. Officer Bartlett and Ramos de-escalated a deadly force situation and convinced a suicidal individual with a gun to surrender.

Hardman, Mahoney and Strate in responding to a domestic situation safely apprehended the suspect who was attempting to flee from an apartment via a rope from the balcony. 

Officer Elizabeth Holt was recognized with the Lifesaving Medal for an incident where an individual was observed standing on a ledge, threatening to jump off onto the I-15 freeway. Holt built rapport with the distressed individual and gained his trust. Once he left the ledge, she walked him to an ambulance and accompanied him as he was transported to the hospital.

Sergeant Jeremiah Drumm, Officer Brayton Doxstader and Sergeant Nathan McDonald received Medals of Merit for respectively, reformulating the department’s written testing process for trainees; playing a major role in assisting a Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force’s investigation into a drug traffic organization connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, helping get approximately 35 pounds of methamphetamine, and 2.5 ounces of heroin off South Salt Lake streets, and demonstrating outstanding organizational efforts to improve accountability for critical equipment, specifically tasers and firearms. 

Coyle honored three staff members with the Chief’s Award of Excellence: Ariel Andrus, for her “exceptional service and dedication to the police department;” Gary Birdsall, for his “exceptional partnership” with the police department and Crystal Makin in recognition of her “invaluable assistance during an unforeseen circumstance involving radios.”

City Attorney Josh Collins and HR Director Charee Peck received the Chief’s Star “in recognition of their extraordinary and superior acts of service and conduct to the department.”

The department’s fleet unit received the Unit Citation Award. λ