Award Recipients
Award Recipients
Johnny Sides Rookie of the Year James Taylor Non-Sworn Employee of the Year
The Johnny Sides Rookie of the Year Award was created to honor the memory of Johnny Sides
who was murdered 21 days after graduating from the police academy, he was 21 years old. The
recipient is selected by the Jaycees from the top three nominations presented by the Meritorious
Conduct Board. Police Officer J. Branden Helms is currently assigned to the Central Patrol Division
and has been with the department since January of 2014. He finished first academically, second
for physical score and had the highest over all score in recruit class 337. He has answered 308 calls
for service, made 201 arrests including 13 felony arrests and 22 drug seizure arrests. He is also the
recipient of the Life Saving Award. The James Taylor Non-Sworn Employee of the Year award is given in memory of Chief Helicopter
Pilot and Reserve Officer James “Chuck” Taylor, who passed away in 1984 from a helicopter crash.
This award recognizes a non-sworn employees of the department for their dedication to the police
profession. Sr. Police Dispatcher Ruben Lozano, Jr. has been with the department for 5 years and
has received 14 commendations. He has an uncanny ability to recognize the officers’ voices
on the radio and knows their call number by their voice. This skill was crucial on July 7th when
he maintained his position on the radio for 4 straight hours ensuring all information was properly
recorded and disseminated.
Police Officer J. Branden Helms
Joe C. Jones Reserve Officer of the Year
Reserve lieutenant vickie colwell
The Joe C. Jones Reserve Officer of the Year award is in memory of Joe C. Jones who joined the
Dallas Police Department Reserve Unit in 1968. Officer Jones passed away from injuries resulting
from an automobile accident while en route to aid another officer in 1972. This award is given
to recognize reserve officers and their dedication by volunteering their time to the Dallas Police
Department and the citizens of Dallas while maintaining full-time jobs in other professions. Reserve
Lieutenant Vickie Colwell joined the Reserve Battalion in August 2006. She has volunteered 2,889
hours, averaging over 300 hours per year. She also volunteers on the Suicide Hotline and helped
search for pets in the aftermath of the tornado devastation in Garland and Rowlett.
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Ruben Lozano, Jr.
John T. McCarthy Officer of the Year
Senior Corporal James Gentry
The John T. McCarthy Officer of the Year Award is given in memory of John T. McCarthy, an officer
who was murdered while investigating suspicious activity near White Rock Lake in 1981. This award
commends an officer who has shown exemplary contributions to law enforcement. Senior Corporal
James Gentry is currently assigned to the South Central Deployment Unit. He has served the Dallas
Police Department for 12 years. He tracks down fugitives and researches crime trends in order to
allocate resources efficiently. Senior Corporal James Gentry is the recipient of 48 commendations
and is described as a leader in his unit.
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