National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Announces 2025 National Officer Safety and Wellness Award Winners

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 18, 2025)  – The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is pleased to announce the winners of the Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Wellness Awards, which highlight agency-level achievements in the areas of officer safety and wellness.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, whose mission is to honor the fallen, tell the story of American law enforcement, and make it safer for those who serve, launched Destination Zero in 2014 with a goal to identify agencies conducting unique and innovative programs aimed at reducing risk factors for line-of-duty deaths, and to share the design and outcomes of these programs with the national law enforcement community. Agencies with successful programs are asked to submit details of their initiatives and be considered for a national officer safety and wellness award.

Awards are presented in the following five categories:

• General Safety: Programs that directly affect officers’ physical safety while performing their jobs.
• Traffic Safety: Initiatives designed to reduce automobile crashes and limit the risk factors of operating a motor vehicle or managing traffic. Programs that increase seatbelt use, limited distractions, or reduce driving speeds are also included in this category.
• Officer Wellness: Fitness programs, mental health programs and initiatives, such as peer support groups and nutrition.
• Comprehensive Wellness: Robust approaches to wholistic wellness and resilience programs.
• Comprehensive Safety: Programs that demonstrate the most comprehensive approach and implementation of well-rounded safety efforts.

Following months of review and evaluation of the more than 40 submitted programs, a diverse committee of experts representing federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies selected the award recipients for each of the five categories.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund proudly announces the following 2025 National Officer Safety and Wellness Award winners:

• Comprehensive Safety: Madison (CT) Police Department
• Comprehensive Wellness: Independence (OH) Police Department
• General Safety: Morton Grove (IL) Police Department 
• Officer Wellness: Newport Beach (CA) Police Department
• Traffic Safety: Smithfield (VA) Police Department

The Madison (CT) PD, winner of Comprehensive Safety, is one of the best-equipped agencies for its size in the U.S. Each of its patrol vehicles has level IV rifle plates for use in custom fitted body armor, a patrol rifle, and “go” bags with medical supplies such as tourniquets, trauma kits, AED, oxygen, Narcan, and extra ammunition and less lethal options.  Their weapons training involves de-escalation techniques, and 90% of the department is trained in crisis intervention training. As a result, over the last three years, the use-of-force rate for calls for service has been .037%, .017%, and .065%, respectively.  In addition, their traffic safety is enhanced by assigning officers individual vehicles to minimize contamination, by using reflective markings and speed-sensitive lighting, and training officers in safer passenger-side traffic stop approaches. Importantly, the department supports officer wellness through a structured peer support program and other initiatives.

The Independence (OH) PD, winner of Comprehensive Wellness, provides its officers on-site gym access, on-duty workout time, organized physical challenges, group workouts, free wellness exams, as well as free Galleri cancer screenings. The department also incentivizes officers to exceed a yearly PRT Cooper standard and meet goals through the Sydney Health App. Its mental health support includes confidential counseling, peer and chaplain programs, and an annual 30-min screening with a licensed mental health clinician for all personnel. In addition, nutrition and financial wellness resources are provided through seminars and access. Sick time usage was cut in half from 2023 to 2024, resulting in a savings of $125,000 to the city.

The Morton Grove (IL) PD, winner of the General Safety Award, equips officers with custom-fit body armor, designed to reduce physical strain and promote safety. Patrol cars are equipped with tactical bags containing Level IV rifle plates, trauma kits, helmets, and school floor plans, with some vehicles outfitted with ballistic shields. Officers also receive monthly training on shield use. Additional equipment provided to officers includes Avon C50 respirators, ANSI-compliant vests, and boot ice cleats, as well as non-lethal options. All personnel are trained in Basic Life Support (CPR, AED, and Narcan use), and the department conducts regular training in firearms, defensive tactics, and tactical medical applications, with scenario-based sessions held monthly and quarterly. Mental health support includes full Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, a Peer Support program, and the integration of a morale-boosting emotional support canine. 

The Newport Beach (CA) PD, winner of Officer Wellness, provides its officers a “Rogue” equipped outdoor gym, an indoor facility, and fitness incentives like a bi-annual physical qualifier offering up to 10 hours of compensation time. Annual medical screenings funded by California Assembly Bill 178 are offered for preventative health, and includes body scans, cardiac review, and blood analysis—50 members participated in 2024. Mental wellness at the department is supported through confidential peer and professional mental health assistance, while nutritional wellness is addressed through a healthy meal prep partnership with a local vendor to offer healthy, on-site, grab-and-go meals. Additional city and agency support includes financial services and educational webinars to help staff prepare for the future.

The Smithfield (VA) PD, winner of the Traffic Safety Award, receives Below 100 training alongside the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC), which is reinforced through ongoing in-service sessions. Officers are mandated to adhere to all traffic regulations and seatbelt policies. Safety at traffic scenes includes high-visibility vests that are issued to each officer and must be worn as per departmental policy, and LED flares are deployed at accident scenes. The department’s briefing room has traffic safety posters and pursuit policies posted as constant reminders of operational standards. In addition, patrol vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art LED lighting, significantly enhancing illumination and visibility for traffic during critical incidents. 

“The continuing goal of our Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Awards is to identify, highlight, and make accessible new and innovative programs that can have an outside impact on the safety of our nation’s law enforcement professionals,” said Bill Alexander, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “Our OSW team, led by Troy Anderson, with critical support from our long-term partner, Verizon Frontline, works to push out programs from our award winners, both past and present, to law enforcement agencies nationwide. It is our hope that programs like these will reduce the number of names we engrave on our sacred Memorial walls each year.”

Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to submit details about their successful safety and wellness programs by applying for the annual 2026 Officer Safety and Wellness Awards through an online application process at nleomf.org.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all of the 24,412 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.