Storm Lake Police Week honors officers, firefighters and civilian lifesavers

Storm Lake Police Week recognized more than a badge and a uniform. At the department’s annual awards ceremony on May 14, officers, firefighters and civilians were honored as parts of the same public safety network that residents depend on when seconds matter.

Officer Clinton Butler was named Officer of the Year and also received a Life Saving Award. Officer Angel Palacios received a Medal of Honor, and Officer Derien Beauregard earned the SLPD Top Shooter Award while also holding a Medal of Valor. The ceremony centered on service, but it also made clear that Storm Lake’s response system runs on training, coordination and trust as much as on individual bravery.

That theme was sharpened by the award given to Kirk Langner of Storm Lake Radio. Langner received a lifesaving award for helping save co-worker Megan Molseed after she suffered a severe cardiac arrest at work on Dec. 11, 2025. Langner, a certified EMT, checked her pulse, started CPR when her heart stopped and kept working until police arrived with an AED. Molseed later said doctors told her she would not have survived without the quick thinking and CPR. In a city where a radio station, law enforcement and emergency medical response intersect in real time, the recognition underscored how civilians can become the first link in the rescue chain.

The award list also stretched beyond patrol work. A chief’s commendation recognized officers and firefighters involved in an assault-with-a-firearm incident, and another commendation went to the fire department response to a barricade incident that involved a structure fire. Years-of-service honors ranged from 10 to 20 years, and among those recognized were Patrick Diekman, Jeff Lundberg, Bre Nieland, Randy Weflen, Alyssa Solem, Thomas Lane, Dulce Salinas, Jason Hoffman, Caleb Villhauer and Gerardo Bravo.

That broader picture fits the department Storm Lake residents rely on every day. The police department says it includes 20 sworn officers, one civilian staff member, two volunteer chaplains and a volunteer physician who serves as tactical team medic. Its structure includes a chief, assistant chief, four lieutenants, 12 patrol officers and two detectives, along with a K-9 officer and specialized units in investigations, narcotics, hostage negotiation, drones, clandestine drug lab cases, the search and recovery dive team, sexual assault response, bike patrol and tactical entry.

The Buena Vista County Dive Team ties that work together with the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Buena Vista County Emergency Management, the Storm Lake police and fire departments, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In 2025, officers responded to more than 48,000 calls for service, about 133 a day, a volume that helps explain why Police Week honors are about more than ceremony. They are a public reminder that if any piece of Storm Lake’s safety system were missing, the gap would be felt quickly on local streets, in homes and in emergencies across Buena Vista County.