Mayor awards LPD community resource specialist Matt Baker for decade of gang-prevention work

The Lincoln mayor and city council on April 14 presented the Mayor's Award of Excellence for December 2024 to Matt Baker, a community resource specialist with the Lincoln Police Department, in recognition of his leadership of Operation Tipping Point and mentoring of at-risk youth.

Mayor Washington (Chairperson Sandra Washington) and council members praised Baker for the program's partnership with Lincoln Public Schools and for mentoring more than 100 youth annually. Sergeant Jeff Sorensen and Daryl King nominated Baker for the award; King, who the transcript identifies as the new hire Baker helped recruit and train, attended the meeting and described Baker's mentorship. Mayor Washington read from nomination materials and emphasized Baker's work supporting Native American students and community outreach.

Baker described starting the program about a decade ago, said he had a record of 20 of 20 eligible students graduating last year under his guidance and credited the police department for giving him the institutional support to follow students from elementary through high school. He said the program takes an individualized approach and that mentorship sometimes requires after-hours contact. "I love the kids I work with. I absolutely love them," Baker said during his remarks.

Council members and the mayor highlighted the city's interest in expanding the program and thanked staff who support it. The council did not take any formal legislative action related to the program at the April 14 meeting; the presentation was ceremonial recognition of Baker's work.

The mayor and council commended Baker and encouraged continued partnership between the police department and Lincoln Public Schools on gang-prevention and youth mentoring initiatives.