The City Council and South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club honored the City’s Emergency Manager, two firefighters and a police officer as Oklahoma City’s employees of the year for their outstanding performance and dedication in 2020.
All four employees were singled out in part for their indispensable leadership in the City’s internal and external response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Police Capt. Frank Barnes, a City employee for 21 years, was honored as the employee of the year. Barnes is Emergency Manager, overseeing the City’s Office of Emergency Management and coordinating with many community partners. He performed his already considerable duties beyond expectations while serving tirelessly as the point person for the City’s overall COVID-19 response.
Staff Sgt. Kim Holmes is the police officer of the year. Holmes, an Airports Police Unit member and 14-year Police Department veteran, used her extensive background as an advanced practice registered nurse on assignment to the City’s Medical Monitoring Unit. She helped keep staff safe across the entire City workforce with her work on guidance, reporting, screening and more.
The firefighters of the year are Lt. Delonna Fowser and Sgt. Ryan Mackey, both of whom work Fire Department Operations. Fowser, a 21-year veteran, is in the EMS Division, and Mackey, an 8-year veteran, is in the Fire Suppression Division. Their involvement in training, reporting, coronavirus testing, equipment and supply inventory, and collaboration with the medical community were key to safely maintaining operations and protecting the workforce.
The Council and Kiwanis Club honor the employee, firefighter and police officer of the year every January.