Tony Karr Named SPD’s Officer of the Year

Antonio (Tony) Karr was named Officer of the Year Tuesday night during the Sedalia Police Department’s Awards Ceremony.

All of the awards presented at the ceremony, which was held at First United Methodist Church on Thompson Boulevard, were earned during calendar year 2024, it should be noted.

Officer Karr is a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Smith-Cotton Junior High School, 312 East Broadway.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that at all. When Chief (Woolery) called me into his office, my first thought was ‘what did I do?’” Karr recalled about finding out he was going to be named Officer of the Year for 2024.

“He told me I was going to be Officer of the Year and I didn’t know what to think at first. But I’m incredibly honored and very proud to be recognized, to get this award,” Officer Karr told KSIS after the ceremony.

The SPD Officer of the Year served at Warrensburg PD for five years and has been serving with the Sedalia PD for five years.

“I’m there every day that school is in session,” Officer Karr said of his dedicated job at S-C Junior High, adding that his favorite part of the job is interacting with the kids.

Karr noted that he had an awesome SRO when he was growing up as a student, and strives to emulate that for today’s students to make a positive impact at S-C Junior High.

“So I feel like I’m paying it forward,” Officer Karr told KSIS.

He added that he has a wonderful working relationship with the staff at the school. “They’re a great bunch of people, really dedicated to the kids. They’re amazing to work with.” Karr said. “I enjoy going to work and spending time with them every day.”

Officer Karr said he plans to continue his work as an SRO. “I absolutely will, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Other awards presented by the SPD command staff include:

Chief’s Award – Ofc. Jesse Page

Medal of Valor – Sgt. Daniel Benner and Ofc. Justin Franken

Life Saving Awards – Ofc. Jesse Page, Ofc. Keaton Schnell, Ofc. Derick DeSalme and Sgt. Neva Overstreet

Meritorious Service Ribbon – Cpl. Andrew “AJ” Silvey

Police Commendation Ribbon – Det. Travis St. Cyr

Letters of Commendation – Ofc. Terrence Conness, Ofc. Robert “Bobby” Mitchell, Cpl. Ty Barrett, Ofc. Matthew Aragon, Sgt. Daniel Benner and Ofc. Justin Franken. All received two letters.

Search & Entry Awards – (the following executed 20 search warrants in 2024; additional ribbons were awarded for 10 more thereafter) Det. Mark Cherry (eighth overall), Det. Travis St. Cyr (6th overall), Det. Sgt. Aaron Barry (7th overall), Cdr. Joshua Howell (9th overall), Chief David Woolery (8th overall), Cpl. David Mittelhauser (4th overall), Cdr. Michael Elwood (11th overall), Det. Nicklous Camirand (1st overall), Cpl. Ty Barrett (3rd overall)

Drone Unit Ribbon – Det. Sgt. Aaron Berry, Ofc. Alex Stevenson and Ofc. Christian Wolfe

Citizen Recognition Letters - Kayla Nilges, Randy Kirby, Madison Roberts, Coralyn Downs-Vega, Logan Deal and Drake Davis

Citizen Recognition Plaque – Maybelle Koeller