Night shift patrol sergeant Adam Israels honored; praises revived 'Battle of Badges' fundraiser

Adam Israels, a night shift patrol sergeant and the department's canine sergeant, accepted a departmental award and thanked peers and command staff for nominating him, saying the recognition was “incredibly humbling.”

Israels highlighted the department's “Battle of Badges” charity softball event, which he said he resurrected in 2020 after about a 15-year hiatus. “Since 2020, we've been able to raise over $45,000 for different community organizations and nonprofits,” Israels said, adding that the event fosters camaraderie between the police and fire departments while supporting local groups.

A presenter from the department introduced Israels and summarized his service record, saying Israels has 13 years with the department, currently works third shift as a patrol sergeant, oversees the K-9/canine unit and serves as an assistant team leader on the tactical or special enforcement team. The presenter credited multiple nominations from peers and command staff that referenced Israels' adherence to departmental core values.

Israels described several roles he has held, including field training officer and supervisor, K-9 unit supervisor, tactical team member and participation in the honor guard, and said each position "holds a special place" for him. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and mentorship, particularly for younger officers who commonly work third shift. "I hope that I can use my position and just my experiences to make a positive impact on the younger officers and lead by example," Israels said.

In closing remarks, Israels thanked his family for their support, noting that working third shift can be difficult and that family support "makes the job a lot more rewarding and allows me to really give my all on everything that I do."