

May 12, 2026

The 33rd Annual TOP COPS Awards® Dinner

Will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with our Nation’s Celebration of National Police Week.

 pdf registration form



past years

Recognizing America’s Finest

Each year since 1994 NAPO has presented the TOP COPS Awards® Ceremony. The purpose of the TOP COPS Awards® is to educate the American public about our nation’s heroes and to pay tribute to law enforcement officers in federal, state, county, tribal and local agencies from across the country for actions above and beyond the call of duty during the preceding year. Our TOP COPS are nominated by fellow law enforcement officers. An independent Awards Selection Committee comprised of national law enforcement representatives select, from hundreds of nominations, one TOP COP case from each of the 50 States and U.S. territories. Law enforcement officers from the top ten cases are selected as our TOP COPS Awards® Winners. In each remaining state, one case has been selected for which the officer(s) will receive an Honorable Mention award.



Submissions Now Open

2027 NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 2027 TOP COPS Awards are now being accepted. Please complete the nomination form & return to NAPO prior to January 8, 2027.

nomination form sponsorship info

Past year's top cops winners

Nomination requirements

1. Nominee(s) must be a sworn law enforcement officer from any federal, state, county, local or tribal law enforcement agency within the United States, its territories and possessions.
2. Nomination must be submitted by a sworn law enforcement officer, who must provide his/her signature on the nomination form certifying the facts as accurate.
3. Nomination must involve an incident or case occurring or concluding between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
4. Nomination must include contact information for each Nominee



Photos

Event Photography

Photos from the 2026 TOP COPS Awards® will be available to view and download following the event. Images will be posted by May 19, 2026, and will remain accessible through September 15, 2026. Visit the gallery to browse highlights from the evening and download official event photography by Jenifer Morris Photography.

View Event Photos

Elegant outdoor staircase with white balustrades and pink flower pots leading to a building entrance with large windows and a curved green awning.

Outdoor hotel terrace at dusk with cushioned lounge chairs around a fire pit and iron dining tables with green cushions under a covered ceiling.



venue information

Omni Shoreham Hotel

2500 Calvert Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

(202) 234-0700

NAPO has reserved a block of rooms at The Omni Shoreham Hotel for award winners and those attending the Annual TOP COP Awards Dinner on May 12, 2026. Information regarding hotel reservations will be available in April.

The Omni Shoreham Hotel is located in one of the area’s premier residential neighborhoods, this elegant urban retreat boasts a resort atmosphere. Since 1930, the luxurious Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. has hosted presidents, world leaders and inaugural balls, making it a true landmark in our nation’s capital. Today, the hotel fuses modern comforts with distinguished service creating a monumental experience for your Washington, D.C. getaway.



travel

Travel Discounts

NAPO has partnered with Delta and United Airlines to offer travel discounts.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is pleased to offer special discounts for NAPO. Please click here to book your flights! You may also check fares with Delta Airlines at www.delta.com. Select “Book Your Flight”. Enter the NAPO discount code: NY49T in the meeting box code. You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at (800)328 -1111 Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (CT) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY49T. Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via Delta’s reservation 800 number.

United Airlines

United Airlines is pleased to offer special discounts to NAPO. Please click here for United’s discount. You may also check fares with United Airlines at www.united.com. Select “Advanced Search”. Enter the NAPO event code: ZRQV220412, in the promotion offer code box. You may also call United Meeting Reservation Desk at 800-426-1122 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (ET) and Sat/Sun 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (ET). Please refer to NAPO’s Event Code ~ ZRQV220412. Booking fees are waived for meeting reservations.



agenda

schedule of events

 View Working Agenda

Tuesday, May 12

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

2026 TOP COPS Award Reception

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

2026 TOP COPS Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, May 13

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

NAPO’s Executive Board Meeting

Omni Shoreham Hotel

8:00 p.m.

Annual Candlelight Vigil

Sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The Vigil will be held on the National Mall between 4^th & 7^th Streets and Madison & Jefferson Drives in Washington, D.C.

Friday, May 15

Time: TBA

Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service

Located on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

We will continue to update National Police Week events as they become available.



Sponsorship Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in supporting our nation’s TOP COPS—those law enforcement officers who demonstrated unmatched professionalism and heroism in service to their community.

Sponsors of the TOP COPS Awards® not only help spotlight these incredible and heroic men and women, but also demonstrate the good business of supporting law enforcement professionals who put themselves in harm’s way each day. The ceremony will be attended by senior government executives, entertainment personalities, and key decision makers in the varied fields of law enforcement, making this an unmatched promotional opportunity for your company.

‍For Information on TOP COPS sponsorship opportunities please contact Elizabeth Loranger, NAPO’s Director of Events
at (800) 322-6276 or eloranger@napo.org

 View sponsors pdf



honored guests

Honored Guests of TOP COPS Awards®

The TOP COPS Awards® are attended by celebrities, politicians, members of the national law enforcement community, corporate donors and other interested individuals. Here is just a short list of attendees we’ve been honored to have throughout the years:

The President of the United States

The Vice President of the United States

The Attorney General of the United States

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

Coby Bell – CBS, “Seal Team”
Eddie Cahill – CBS, “CSI: New York”
Robert Clohessy – CBS, “Blue Bloods”
Seamus Dever – ABC, “Castle”
Kathryn Erbe – NBC, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”
Milena Govich – FX Series, “Rescue Me”
Mariska Hargitay – NBC, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
Abigail Hawk – CBS, “Blue Bloods”
Gregory Jbara – CBS, “Blue Bloods”
Penny Johnson – ABC, “Castle”
James Earl Jones
David McCallum – CBS, “NCIS”Christopher Meloni – NBC, “Law & Order: Organized Crime”
Craig Morgan – Country Music Superstar
Kathryn Morris – CBS, “Cold Case”
Bebe Neuwirth – CBS, “ Madame Secretary”
Jeffrey Nordling – Fox, “24”
Pauley Perrette – CBS, “NCIS”
Jeremy Ratchford – CBS, “Cold Case”
John Riggins – Pro-Football Hall of Fame
Linus Roache – Showtime, “Homeland”
Robert Taylor – Netflix “Longmire”
John Walsh – FOX, “America’s Most Wanted”
Steve Zirnkilton – NBC, “Law & Order”



2026 winners & Honorable Mentions

Top Cop Winners

Illinois

Police Officer Oscar Asilis

Chicago Police Department

2026

Illinois

Police Officer Andrew R. Paulauskas

Chicago Police Department

2026

Illinois

Police Officer Juan Alba-Chavez

Chicago Police Department

2026

Illinois

Field Training Officer Timothy L. Bell

Chicago Police Department

2026

Kentucky

Trooper Paul Johnson

Kentucky State Police

2026

Massachusetts

Police Officer Jose Rafael Valenzuela

Boston Police Department

2026

Michigan

Deputy Cal Landon

Berrien County Sheriff’s Office

2026

Nevada

Police Officer Skeeter Black