Citizens Energy Group honors Indianapolis police, firefighters and sheriff deputies at annual recognition luncheon

Citizens Energy Group and city officials honored dozens of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers, Indianapolis Fire Department firefighters and Marion County sheriff deputies at the organization’s annual Community Recognition Luncheon, where peer‑nominated awards recognized life‑saving rescues, major narcotics and firearm seizures, and community outreach efforts.

Jeffrey Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Citizens Energy Group, opened the program by saying the organization “has the privilege of honoring those on the front lines today,” and thanked attendees for recognizing public safety personnel who “bravely serve and protect our community.” Mayor Joe Hogsett noted the event’s longevity and said the awards are peer nominated, which he said underscores their meaning for recipients.

The program highlighted a mix of operational achievements and community work. Among the operational citations, the luncheon program announced that Officer Christopher Khalil, named the David S. Moore Police Rookie of the Year, was credited with 87 outright arrests, 47 warrant arrests and multiple narcotics and firearm seizures in 2024, including 631 grams of Schedule I controlled substances, 31 grams of cocaine, 1,000 grams of marijuana, 70 pharmaceuticals, 65 grams of methamphetamine and 10 firearms; the citation also said his work included the department’s first discovery of so‑called “pink cocaine.” Presentations at the event identified Detective Michael Soika as East District Officer of the Year after organizers said he led more than 20 complex investigations in 2024 that produced 28 arrests, the recovery of about 30 illegal firearms, and seizures including 46 grams of cocaine, 27 grams of fentanyl, roughly 1,655 grams of marijuana and other controlled substances.

Firefighter and rescue citations drew attention as well. The program recounted two multi‑victim rescues credited to Private Adam Goady, who was cited for entering burning homes without a charged hand line to recover victims and for performing advanced airway care; the presenters said one of the rescues resulted in a patient who survived after intubation and transport. The luncheon also recognized other on‑duty and volunteer acts: presentations noted a Marion County detention deputy who helped stop an escape attempt, a Marion County senior intelligence analyst whose work led to the recovery of a stolen firearm and the arrest of a suspected career criminal, and multiple officers credited for searches that located missing or endangered residents.

The event included awards for community engagement and training as well as frontline actions. Presenters highlighted Officer Jonas Coleman’s mentoring and youth work with IndyPal programs, Sergeant Robin Frazier’s fundraising and coordination of a community day that raised nearly $10,000 in donated goods and gift cards, and Officer John Wall’s leadership of the Mountain Bike Skills Park that brings more than 2,000 children to the facility annually. The program also recognized training and administrative contributions, naming Major David Roberts for training leadership at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Lieutenant Cathy Archie for her role in background investigations and hiring.

Sponsors and community partners were acknowledged throughout the program. Eric Halverson of Kroger presented a donation to the Public Safety Education Fund and praised the families of public safety workers for their support; Halverson said Kroger was “here to just say thank you” to personnel and their families. The event’s emcees, Dustin Grove and Ginny Renovich of WTHR, guided the ceremony and introduced the awards and presentations.

Organizers closed the program by thanking sponsors, urging nominees and award winners to remain onstage for photos, and offering brief housekeeping items. The luncheon featured an invocation and benediction and honored an Indianapolis Fire Department engineer who died during the past year.

Photos of winners and a full list of award recipients and sponsors were provided in the event program distributed at the luncheon.