WOOSTER, Ohio — The Wooster Police Department is recognizing two patrolmen after city officials said their actions reflected lifesaving calm, bravery under fire and sustained community service.
In an official city announcement, Wooster said Patrolman Thomas Sereika received the department’s Life Saving Award for his response to a New Year’s Day call involving a distraught person in crisis.
According to the city, Sereika located the person, approached with a calm and personable tone, used distraction techniques to get close enough to help, and then seized a momentary opportunity to pull the person to safety. The person was transported to a hospital for evaluation, the city said.
The nomination cited Sereika’s “calm demeanor and tactfulness” and said his experience and heroic actions directly saved the individual’s life, according to the City of Wooster.
Award of Honor for ambush response
The city said Patrolman Connor Orr received the Award of Honor for his response to an April 2, 2025 traffic-stop ambush. According to the official announcement, a suspect exited a vehicle and opened fire, striking the windshield of Orr’s cruiser twice while he was inside.
Wooster officials said Orr took evasive action, radioed dispatch while under fire, exited his vehicle, returned fire and attempted to pursue the suspect after his cruiser was disabled.
“Patrolman Orr was faced with a deadly scenario that few of us, if any, have experienced,” the nomination letter said, according to the city. Sergeant Clint Bartolic added that Orr showed “bravery and courageous calm” under extraordinarily quick circumstances.
Officer of the Year recognition
Orr also received Wooster’s 2025 Officer of the Year Award. The city said he led the department in response and activity for the year, including 387 traffic stops, 137 arrests and 228 recorded incident reports, while also serving for three years as the local Boys & Girls Club’s safety chairman.
“These awards reflect the Wooster Police Department’s commitment to professionalism, bravery, and community service,” Police Chief Matt Fisher said in the city announcement.
Sources reviewed
Editorial note: ThinBlueNews is relying on the city’s public announcement and official image. The article avoids naming the person in crisis and limits the ambush description to the official award-recognition context.