Story from cityofomaha.org
Several members of the Omaha and Douglas County community in Nebraska will be officially recognized during a virtual ceremony on January 15.
The City of Omaha will recognize Omaha Police Lt. Sherie Thomas, who oversees the Omaha Police Department Public Information Office. The Douglas County recipient of the Dr. King award is Public Information Officer Leia Baez.
Omaha mayor Jean Stothert says, “In an extraordinary year, Lt. Thomas and Ms. Baez have provided critical communications with our citizens, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to public protests last summer. Timely, accurate, transparent communication is always important, even more so over the last year.”
Baez has played a crucial role in developing and distributing community and media communications during the pandemic. She is a member of the COVID-19 Unified Command communications team and the community liaison, keeping community partners and agencies informed. She recruited and coordinated Spanish-speaking volunteers for test sites and coordinated public information on rental assistance and other programs to help Douglas County residents impacted by the pandemic.
Baez has represented Douglas County in community programs including the Grassroots Leadership Program. She is a motivational speaker, a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, and serves on local community boards including The Rose Theater, Public Relations Society of America-Nebraska Chapter, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands.
Lt. Thomas joined the Omaha Police Department in 1998. She has been assigned to numerous units including Uniform Patrol, Internal Affairs, Training, and Domestic Violence. She has also worked as a School Resource Officer.
Thomas is President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives of Nebraska, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Black Police Officers Association, Latino Police Officers Association, Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and the Nebraska Association of Women Police.
She serves on the boards of Metropolitan Community College Foundation, Youth Emergency Services, Special Olympics and the Career Advisory Board of Northwest High Magnet School.
The MLK Jr. Community "Living the Dream Award” will be presented to Gene Haynes. Mr. Haynes retired last year after serving as the principal at North High School since 2001. Haynes worked for the Omaha Public Schools for 53 years, teaching and coaching before he became principal.
You can watch the award ceremony at https://humanrights.cityofomaha.org on Friday, January 15, 2021 at noon.
