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Shenandoah honors officers for arrests, de-escalation and service
Summary
Shenandoah recognized multiple police officers Feb. 26 for training completions, arrest totals and life‑saving action; Officer David Didi was named 2024 patrol officer of the year and Officer David Swetnam received a commendation for talking an individual down from a hospital parking garage, staff said.
Shenandoah city staff presented a series of awards to members of the Shenandoah Police Department at the Feb. 26 City Council meeting, highlighting training achievements, arrest statistics and a life‑saving de‑escalation.
City staff noted that Sergeant McDuffie and Sergeant Pullen recently received awards through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law Enforcement Command Officer Program (LEACOP), joining others from the department recognized for completing the program. Staff said the LEACOP program requires 10 courses and a chief’s recommendation as part of the application process.
In the ceremony, staff named Officer David Didi the department’s 2024 patrol officer of the year, citing that he led the department in misdemeanor arrests, DWI arrests and several other enforcement metrics within roughly eight months after his training release. Staff also said Didi completed a 152‑hour drug recognition expert course and was among 18 in Montgomery County with that certification.
The department presented a team‑player award to Officer Jim Hebert for covering extra shifts and supporting honor‑guard duties, and service awards to Officer Patrick Reid (social‑media outreach, training instruction and event planning) and Officer John Foran (event logistics, vehicle maintenance and school‑bus escorts).
Staff issued letters of commendation to Officer Jennifer Genovese for leading patrol shift work and investigative follow‑ups and to Officer David Swetnam, who recovered multiple stolen vehicles in 2024 and received a citizen compliment after assisting a stranded Vietnam veteran on I‑45. Sergeant Jake (staff) described watching Swetnam’s body‑worn camera footage of a separate incident in which Swetnam de‑escalated an individual at a hospital parking garage and said, “he did an absolutely outstanding job of talking that guy down.”
Mayor (unnamed in the transcript) praised the department and thanked staff and families for their service, saying he was “so proud to have so many excellent police officers assigned to our department.”
Council did not take formal policy action tied to the awards; the presentations concluded with a group photo and family photos for recipients.
The council moved on to regular agenda business after the recognition segment.
