Watertown Police Department Honors Excellence at Annual Awards Banquet

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Police Department recently held its annual awards banquet on Thursday, January 8, 2026, to recognize exceptional performance, commemorate dedicated service, and foster teamwork between agency personnel and the community.

Major Individual Honors

The department presented its highest annual honors to individuals who exemplified excellence throughout 2025:

·        Officer of the Year: Corporal Austin Nelson. Nelson was recognized for his professionalism, reliability, and role as a mentor who elevates those around him.

·        Supervisor of the Year: Sergeant Trevor Barthel. Barthel was honored for his leadership of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and his management of high-profile cases.

·        Detective of the Year: Sig Sivertson. Sivertson was noted for his work dismantling interstate fraud rings and his tireless work ethic.

·        Communications Officer of the Year: Kaitlin Fuerstenau. Fuerstenau was celebrated for her clear dispatching and positive presence on the radio.

·        Support Staff Employee of the Year: Connie Cutler. Cutler was recognized for over 25 years of service and her vital role in managing department operations and the budget.

·        Rookie of the Year: Officer Kelby Jacobson. Jacobson was praised for his proactive mindset and independence during his first year of service.

Life Saving Awards

The Life Saving Award was presented to nine individuals for their prompt actions that directly saved lives:

·        Officers Alex Hansen and Caden Wollschlager, and Corporal Bryton Black. They saved an individual from an opioid overdose on April 13, 2025.

·        LCO Theresa Riter and Officers Austin Mattson and Chance Paulson. They coordinated the life-saving rescue of a newborn not breathing after a home birth on November 28.

·        Officers Kyle Wengler and Zach Cline. They intervened in a suicide attempt on February 17, 2025, providing life-saving medical care.

·        LCO Kaitlin Fuerstenau. She guided a 911 caller through 11 cycles of CPR after a two-year-old child fell into a pool on June 22, 2025.

Valor and Commendable Service

The Medal of Valor was awarded to Officers Caden Yurkovich and Tayler Maertens. Both officers risked their lives by entering freezing water on November 24, 2025, to attempt a rescue of a woman trapped in a submerged vehicle. Dispatcher Brooklyn Serreyn received the Commendable Service Award for her composure and compassion while guiding the caller through the same critical incident.

Special Unit and Creativity Citations

·        Unit Citation: Awarded to the Criminal Investigation Division, including Jeremy Bjerke, Sig Sivertson, Martin Geier, Jesse Alvarado, and Brandon Johnston. The team was recognized for investigative excellence, including the largest methamphetamine seizure in department history.

·        Creativity Bar: Officer Alexis Buysse and Public Safety Social Worker Elly Anderson were honored for their innovative partnership in mental health response and community engagement initiatives.

Merit Bar and Firearms Proficiency

The Merit Bar was awarded to Officer John Waldner, Detective Martin Geier, and Officer Valarie Seidell for displaying exceptional thoroughness and initiative in their duties.

Additionally, the department recognized Firearms Proficiency for officers who achieved perfect scores during qualifications:

·        Rifle: Trevor Barthel, Alexis Buysse, Tylor Griffith, Jamon Harberts, and Kelby Jacobson.

·        Handgun: Jesse Alvarado, Martin Geier, Austin Mattson, Sig Sivertson, and Summer Thyne.