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Officer Brady Helmkamp, of the City of Franklin Police Department, is successfully carrying on a rich family legacy of public service in law enforcement, and it has not gone unnoticed by his peers.

Helmkamp was recently named the department’s 2023 Officer of the Year.

FPD Chief Steve Patterson explained how the recipient of the honor is determined each year.

“The department seeks input from the officers who work day in and day out with the nominee,” he said. “Based on their inputs we determine who is deserving of this award.”

The chief noted that Helmkamp receiving the honor is proof that the process works.

“Officer Helmkamp may be a young officer, but he has hit the ground running,” Patterson said. “He is quick to jump in and help as needed. Brady has assisted in projects around the department, such as the remodel of the animal shelter, range improvements and the re-creation of an explorer program, which is still in development stages. Brady volunteers for these tasks while also ensuring his job duties are met.”

Helmkamp has been in law enforcement for one year, and he began working for the FPD in November 2022.

He was drawn to the field through the example of his father.

“My father is my biggest role model in life,” he said. “He was a police officer during the 1990s in Topeka, Kansas. I grew up listening to my father’s stories about his time in law enforcement. I could always tell by the way he talked about law enforcement that it was his true passion. 

“When I joined the police department, my father gave me a necklace that he wore while he was a police officer,” Helmkamp continued. “It portrays St. Michael and is often given to law enforcement as a prayer of protection and safety. That is incredibly special to me that I get to carry a part of my father’s service with me every day.”

Helmkamp shared his own reaction to the FPD’s 2023 Officer of the Year honor.

“It is an incredible honor to be nominated for this award by my peers,” he said. “The Franklin Police Department is full of amazing officers who are also very deserving of this award. It makes me feel an immense sense of pride that those same officers felt that I was the officer most deserving of this award.”

Helmkamp took a moment to establish what qualities he believes make for an excellent police officer.

“There are so many qualities that excellent police officers must exhibit based off the situation at hand,” he said. “I believe firmness, fairness, compassion and humility are all vitally important in law enforcement. 

“However, I believe the most critical quality to the job is humility,” he said. “Wearing my badge does not change me or my mindset. I am a human being who just wants to help my community. This is the same mission as so many other good citizens that band together every day to make our community a better place to live.”

He noted that police officers are often placed in situations in which they must “wear so many hats.”

“We must be the enforcers, the preservers of peace, the rescuers and, God willing, the life savers,” he said. “In law enforcement, we get the chance to positively impact so many members of our community daily. I have made it my mission in this career field to try to make our community a better place every day when given the opportunity.”

When asked what he thought Helmkamp’s greatest strengths were that contributed to his receiving the Officer of the Year award, Patterson said, “Officer Helmkamp’s greatest strengths are his humility, communication and desire to make a difference.”

This award was not the first time Helmkamp has been recognized in a notable manner.

When he served in the U.S. Army, he was awarded the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (ARCAM). He explained that the ARCAM medal is awarded by recommendation of a company commander of a reserve unit and is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity.

Helmkamp made a point to add a special “thank you” to his wife and daughter for helping facilitate his success.

“Without their continual love and support, none of my accomplishments would be possible,” he said.