River Falls names Officer Alex Sather police officer of the year; Captain Chad Zess named firefighter of the year

River Falls presented its first annual Police & Fire Commission awards March 24, naming Officer Alex Sather its 2025 officer of the year and Captain Chad Zess its firefighter of the year.

Lenny Austin, president of the River Falls Police and Fire Commission, introduced the awards and lauded Sather’s combination of tactical skill and community engagement. “He is a reliable teammate who boosts morale, supports his fellow officers, and approaches every interaction with professionalism and compassion,” Austin said, summarizing the commission’s reasons for the honor.

Austin highlighted three incidents the commission considered significant: a May 2025 rescue of a suicidal woman on a downed tree over water, a December high‑speed pursuit in which Sather helped talk a suspect to a safe stop, and a January firearm‑theft investigation in which Sather’s coordination with another agency uncovered a false report. “Officer Sather’s actions prevented what could have been a fatal crash,” Austin said.

Austin also presented the firefighter award to Chad Zess, captain of special operations, citing his leadership, training work and contributions to the new fire‑station user group. Austin said Zess’s construction knowledge and user‑group leadership helped ensure operational needs would be reflected in the new facility.

The council observed the awards before moving into the regular agenda. The recognitions underscore the commission’s effort to highlight both emergency responses and day‑to‑day contributions such as training and community policing.

The council did not take formal action on the awards; they were presented as part of the meeting’s opening recognitions.