The Dallas Police Department has been selected as one of three recipients of the 2015 National Officer Safety and Wellness Award for the implementation of the Downed Operator Kit initiative.

From law enforcement agencies nationwide, our initiative was selected as being one of the most innovative and positive steps toward improving officer safety. The Downed Operator Kits consist of a tourniquet, Olaes modular bandage and combat gauze designed to enable officers to provide initial medical care for serious trauma related injuries to citizens and officers. Reserve Lieutenant Dr. Alex Eastman has provided officers with the best training in the application of the tourniquets. Over 3,200 kits have been issued department-wide and there is no question they are a critical and invaluable tool that saves lives. Since their inception in late 2013, they have been used to save 14 lives including two of our own police officers.

On May 12, 2015, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Department of Justice presented the department in Washington, D.C. with the National Officer Safety Program and Wellness Award.