South Bend Police Department award ceremony

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Police Department hosted its annual award ceremony on Wednesday evening to recognize officers that had exceptional achievements throughout 2021.

“Well, I think the whole event is special. Anytime you can honor the officers with awards for the explementary performance is a great thing for us as a command staff. We look forward to this as way of showing appreciation from the top on down,” said Dan Skibins, Assistant Chief of the SBPD.

Officer of the Year for 2021 was awarded to Sergeant Maranda Baker. This award is given to a sworn officer of the department who merits recognition from peers and the community.

Baker was credited with seven firearm recoveries with arrests, nine narcotics arrests and 109 written reports in 2021 alone. She also apprehended a serial bank robber only minutes after they had committed a robbery.

The department presented another 14 awards that were give to at least 30 recipients.