The IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section (ICLES) honors Officer CJ Weaver of the Miami Nation Police Department as the 2026 IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year.

Pictured above from left to right: Tribal Affairs Specialist Angel Benally, FirstNet Built w/ AT&T; Chief Shawn Butler, Catawba Indian Nation/ICLES Vice Chair; Officer CJ Weaver, Miami Nation Police Department; Chief Abel Stose, Miami Nation Police Department; Assistant Vice President Carrie Johnson, FirstNet Built w/ AT&T

On May 31, 2025, Officer CJ Weaver of the Miami Nation, Oklahoma, Police Department responded to a report of shots fired on North Main Street. Upon arrival, Officer Weaver encountered an active and rapidly escalating threat involving an armed suspect firing a weapon in a residential area. As multiple officers approached the scene, the suspect refused repeated commands to drop his firearm and continued to move unpredictably around the property.

Officer Weaver took up a position on the southeast corner of a residence while officers attempted to contain the suspect. During this time, the suspect suddenly turned toward Officer Weaver, raised his firearm, and fired directly at him. Despite being placed under immediate threat, Officer Weaver maintained his position and continued to assist in coordinating the response as officers sought to stop the danger to bystanders and law enforcement personnel.

After the initial exchange, officers again ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. Instead, the suspect picked up his firearm a second time and pointed it toward the officers, forcing them to return fire to prevent further harm. Their prompt and decisive action brought the incident under control, and the suspect was taken into custody without injury to officers or civilians.

Throughout the encounter, Officer Weaver demonstrated calmness under pressure, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the community. His conduct during the confrontation, particularly while under direct fire, was instrumental in preventing additional violence and ensuring the safety of both the public and fellow officers.

Thanks to Officer Weaver’s bravery, discipline, and selfless actions, a dangerous situation was brought to a safe resolution. His response exemplifies the highest standards of the Miami Nation Police Department and reflects great credit upon himself and his profession.

The IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section (ICLES) honors Officer Tucker Halstead of the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department as the 2025 IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year.

Pictured below from left to right: Assistant Vice President Carrie Johnson, FirstNet Built w/ AT&T; Chief Bill Denke, Pechanga Tribal Rangers/ICLES Chair; Chief Charles Palmer, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department; Officer Tucker Halstead, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department; Assistant Chief Terrance Bush, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department; Executive Director Shawn Butler, Catawba Indian Nation/ICLES Vice Chair; Tribal Affairs Specialist Angel Benally, FirstNet Built w/ AT&T

On February 24, 2024, Officer Tucker Halstead responded to a call for service from Ardmore, Oklahoma, Police Department (APD) regarding a structure fire at an occupied apartment building. Upon arrival, Officer Halstead observed that the building was almost entirely engulfed in flames. He then noticed a woman and a young child trapped on a second-floor balcony who were unable to use the staircase to escape. Officer Halstead quickly ran toward the structure, scaled the side of the building, and reached the balcony where they were calling for help. Officer Halstead was able to successfully evacuate both the child and mother without injury.

After climbing down from the balcony, Officer Halstead then heard screams coming from the opposite side of the building and rushed around the building to locate those in need of assistance. Along with APD officers, Officer Halstead kicked open apartment doors to evacuate occupants who were in imminent danger. Thanks to their prompt actions, multiple residents were safely evacuated from the burning building. At this point, the entire building was on fire, and the second story was starting to collapse. While backing away to maintain a safe distance, however, officers soon heard more screams coming from the center of the building.

Without hesitation, Officer Halstead and the APD officers re-entered the building in an attempt to locate the trapped individuals. They found a male and female stuck on another second-story balcony. With no other option left, the couple jumped from the balcony. After they landed, they were unable to move, so the officers carried them to safety where medical personnel were waiting.

Thanks to Officer Halstead’s bravery and selfless actions, countless individuals were rescued from the brink of disaster, preserving lives that could have been lost without his intervention.

The IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section (ICLES) honors Inspector Marcel Beaudin of the Ontario Provincial Police as the 2024 IACP Indian Country Officer of the Year.

Pictured below from left to right: Executive Director Shawn Butler, Catawba Indian Nation/ICLES Vice Chair; Deputy Commissioner Rohan Thompson, Ontario Provincial Police; Inspector Marcel Beaudin, Ontario Provincial Police; Commissioner Thomas Carrique, Ontario Provincial Police; Chief Bill Denke, Pechanga Tribal Rangers/ICLES Chair

During his over 20-year career with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Inspector Marcel Beaudin has made significant contributions to enhancing First Nations policing by improving community trust and confidence in police. As a member of the Henvey Inlet First Nation and a senior leader in the OPP Indigenous Policing Bureau (IPB), he makes a deliberate effort to strengthen relationships with First Nations and policing partners.

As director of the IPB, Inspector Beaudin continuously contributes to community development by devoting significant time and effort to the empowerment of young people. In 2015, he solidified funding to enhance Niigan Mosewak, (“moving forward” in Ojibwe), which is a yearly, weeklong OPP summer program for at-risk Indigenous youth that promotes personal wellness and respect. Niigan Mosewak has subsequently been recognized as a best practice for police services. This program is still active, and in 2023, it hosted close to 80 youths, representing 16 First Nations. Inspector Beaudin was also invited by a Canadian senator to partake in the Truth and Reconciliation Roundtable for Simcoe County, which he has participated in since 2019.

Inspector Beaudin has also established numerous initiatives for the benefit of Indigenous communities. He initiated the Brands for Canada project within OPP, which receives donations of brand-name clothing and goods that are distributed to communities and individuals in need, predominantly Indigenous communities in northern Ontario. This initiative has also resulted in the distribution of donations to shelters and child and family service agencies in the Asubpeeschoseewagong, Naotkamegwanning, Wabaseemoong, Northwest Angle 33, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe, Lac Seul, and Shoal Lake 40 First Nations.

Inspector Beaudin has also used his natural leadership abilities and community dedication in various roles throughout his career. As a cochair of the OPP Major Incident Management Group, Inspector Beaudin was integral in developing the National Framework for Police Response to Demonstrations and Assemblies, which promotes an operationally sound, informed, and flexible approach to resolving conflict and managing crises in a consistent manner, and has been adopted in Canada on a national scale. Elements of the framework were cited as best practices for response to demonstrations in the 2023 final report of the Public Order Emergency Commission from the Emergencies Act Inquiry.

The above accomplishments and contributions demonstrate Inspector Beaudin’s commitment to enhancing the lives of indigenous communities.

The 2023 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section's partnership with FirstNet - Built with AT&T honors Officer Jared Buckaloo from the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year. 

On the evening of July 22, 2022, Chickasaw Lighthorse K9 Officer Buckaloo identified a suspicious vehicle in the WinStar World Casino parking lot. The individual inside the vehicle noticed Officer Buckaloo in his patrol car and looked as if he was attempting to conceal or destroy an object. Upon approaching the vehicle, the subject started the vehicle and fled the scene. 

There was a short pursuit through and around the parking lot until the subject left his car and the pursuit continued on foot. Officer Buckaloo followed the subject past a residence where adults and children were swimming in an outdoor pool. When the subject stopped for a brief moment, he brandished and raised a pistol while verbally threatening Officer Buckaloo's life. Officer Buckaloo tackled the subject and a brief struggle ensued. Unable to dislodge the firearm from the subject's hand, Officer Buckaloo retrieved his own service weapon and fired, halting the attacked. The suspect ultimately succumbed to his injuries. 

It was later learned that the suspect had been wanted as a multistate sex offender. Had it not been for the courageous, quick-thinking actions of Officer Buckaloo, the suspect could have harmed multiple civilians and the officer. 

The 2022 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section's partnership with FirstNet - Built with AT&T honors Officer Javier Bracamontes and Officer Maurisio Miranda from the Gila River Police department as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officers of the Year. 

On April 15, 2021 at 02:00, Gila River Police Department Officers Maurisio Miranda and Javier Bracamontes were on duty at a casino located on the Gila River Indian Community in Central Arizona, resolving a stolen vehicle incident. Their attention was immediately diverted to shots being fired approximately 50 yards from their location in the parking garage. The officers quickly observed a subject chasing an individual across the parking garage while shooting at them. Unbeknownst to the officers at that time, the shooter had already shot and killed another individual who lay dead next to their vehicle. The suspect cornered the fleeing victim, raised their gun to the victim's head and fired. The victim instinctively raised their bag to their face as a shield. A can of pepper spray inside of the bag stopped the bullet. 

Officers Miranda and Bracamontes, without concern for their own safety, immediately engaged the suspect by pursuing and exchanging fire with the suspect until the suspect's gun jammed. The suspect tossed the gun to the ground and fled on foot from the officers. Both officers continued their pursuit and were able to catch up and contain the suspect. Officers Miranda and Bracamontes effectively used an electronic control weapon to safely take the suspect into custody. Throughout the incident they adjusted their tactics and use of force in response to the changing risk factors. 

Further investigation revealed that this suspect was part of a white supremacist gang in the Phoenix area. He had followed the victims to the casino and hid in the back of their truck with the intention of killing them. When the victims exited the casino later that night the suspect ambushed them both.

Officer Bracamontes and Miranda embody what it means to be a police officer by their selfless acts, committed service, and heroism putting their own lives at risk for the safety of the community.  

The 2021 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section's partnership with FirstNet - Built with AT&T honors Officer Michael Cook and Officer Kasey Way from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Police Department as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officers of the Year. 

The 2020 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section in partnership with FirstNet Built with AT&T honored Officer Alexis De Los Santos from the Miccosukee Police Department as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year. Read about his story on the IACP Blog.

The 2019 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section in partnership with FirstNet Built with AT&T honored Officer Marvin Luke Big Boy Gribble from the Colville Tribal Police Department as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year.

The 2018 IACP Indian Country Law Enforcement Section in partnership with FirstNet Built with AT&T honored Officer Michael Carlow and Officer Jonnie Cordell of Crow Creek Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services as IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officers of the Year. Read about the officers stories on the IACP Blog.