Boulder police honor inaugural Eric Talley Award recipient at 2022 c…

The Boulder Police Department gave awards to more than 40 officers, sergeants, detectives and staff members at its 2022 awards ceremony Wednesday evening.

This year, for the first time, the department bestowed the inaugural Eric H. Talley Award, created in honor of Officer Eric Talley, who was killed in the King Soopers shooting on March 22, 2021. This award, created to honor department members who “frequently exceed expectations when helping others within the department both professionally and personally,” went to Officer Ryan Austin, a 15-year veteran of Boulder’s police force.

“Being the first recipient of (the award) is really exciting, and I’m honored,” said Austin. He said receiving the award felt “validating” and kept him feeling motivated about his work.

Officer Bryan Plyter, who was part of a group of people who hatched the idea for the award, said Austin had been chosen because of his willingness to help and support others in the department both in and out of the office.

“This is a very important award for this department, especially in these times,” Plyter said. “Because we have so many awards that are for things that we do out there, but … there really was no award for things that people do in the building, for the people that work in the building. So this award … kind of embodies that. It’s kind of in a league of its own.”

Other awards given at the ceremony included Officer and Detective of the Year, Certificates of Commendation, Awards for Excellence, a Unit Citation, Superior Tactics and Response (STAR) awards, Medals for Lifesaving and Medals of Valor.

Several officers received awards for their response to the Kalmia Avenue apartment fire on March 25, 2022, including officers Nathaniel Taylor, Zihang Xu and Andy Mills. All three earned multiple awards for the fire and other incidents they responded to last year.

Taylor, who won the 2022 Officer of the Year award, a STAR award and a Medal of Valor, said it was “humbling” and “very gratifying” to win these awards.

Xu, who won a Medal of Valor and a Medal for Lifesaving, said he was happy to win awards but said, “I think we’re just doing our job.”

And Mills, who won an Award for Excellence and a Unit Citation, said, “It’s nice to be recognized, for sure. … At the same time, I don’t think anybody was really thinking too much” about winning awards when they were doing their work.

The award ceremony also featured a keynote speech by J. R. Payne, head coach of the University of Colorado women’s basketball team, and remarks by Police Chief Maris Herold.