Since 1972 recognizing our city's outstanding Police Officers
with the Officer of the Month and Officer of the Year selections.

A 21 year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, Senior Corporal Padilla immediately gained the respect of his peers by being elected secretary and treasurer of his Police Academy class. He also has the highest respect of his supervisors and the citizens he is sworn to protect.

In the years since that first vote of confidence from his peers, Senior Corporal Padilla has earned 127 commendations, Marksmanship bar, Safe Driving bar, Kids and Cops bar, Certificate of Merit, Lifesaving bar, Rotary Club Officer of the Month for the Central Operations Division as well as the Dallas Community Police Awards Committee Officer of The Month bar.

Senior Corporal Padilla’s dedication and commitment doesn’t end with his job. In 1998 Senior Corporal Padilla orchestrated the reconstruction of the Oak Cliff Little League’s field house and raised funds to replace all their equipment after gang members had destroyed the facility. Senior Corporal Padilla gave a summer of hope back to many children that year. He continues to give hope to the citizens of Dallas not only by protecting them, but by being an incredible example of a police officer, citizen, husband and father.

For 32 years the Dallas Community Police Award Committee has selected and honored a Dallas Police Officer of the Month, and from that pool an Officer of the Year. This award is given not just for a single act of heroism, but for daily courage, excellence, leadership, and community involvement. The Officer of the Month and Officer of the Year awards given by this committee are the only civilian awards officially recognized by the Dallas Police Department in that the officers are presented with a bar to wear on their uniforms. We are very proud of and humbled by Senior Corporal Padilla’s exemplary character and dedication.