OFFICER OF THE YEAR

from Merriam Police Annual Report, 2020

HIGHLIGHTS

Sgt. Nick Weiler completed the Northeast Johnson County Leadership Academy. PO Justin Bilyeu and PO Jordan Berry graduated from the Johnson County Regional Police Academy in April. They're both currently assigned to patrol unit shifts.

Promotions

Sgt. Chris Brokaw was promoted to captain in March. Cpl. Jeremiah Waters was promoted to sergeant in April. Cpls. Corey Herron, Laura Larison, Aaron Simmons, Wes Waller, and Nick Weiler were all promoted to sergeants in June.

PO Berry on left, PO Bilyeu on the right

Brokaw Waters Herron Larison Simmons Waller Weiler

Johnson County Mental Health Co-Responder

In 2018, the Merriam Police Department partnered with Johnson County Mental Health to have a mental health co-responder to help police respond to mental health related calls for service. The co-responder also follows up on cases. The implementation of this partnership has been successful over the last three years. In 2020, the Merriam Police Department responded to 325 mental health related calls for service. The co-responder directly assisted officers with 84 of these calls. The co-responder was also able to conduct 128 followup visits and/or phone calls.

Described as someone with a positive and caring attitude, MPO Jared Ruby was named the 2020 Merriam Police Officer of the Year.

Ruby spent much of 2020 training new officers and instructing his peers on the range. But, his greatest achievement was saving a life. In August, Ruby preformed CPR and used a defibrillator on a man who had stopped breathing. His quick actions helped the man, who was able to fully recover.

Ruby applied for and was selected to become a detective, which he'll start the role in January 2021.

Capt. Chris Brokaw said Ruby “constantly represents our department core values by demonstrating ‘courage, sacrifice, and compassion.’”

The department’s Officer of the Year Award is a peer-nominated award.