2025 NRA Officer of the Year Award Winner

On the afternoon of July 13, 2024, Sergeant Aaron Zaliponi, of the Adams Township Police Department, who is also the Alpha Team Leader of the Butler County Emergency Service Unit, was at the Butler County Farms Show grounds in Pennsylvania. His mission for this day was as the counter assault team leader for the unit. Sergeant Zaliponi was to stop and neutralize any coordinated attack on the presidential candidate speaking there – Donald J. Trump.

At approximately 6:09 p.m. the team was notified about a male on top of one of the agricultural (AGR) buildings, and the team started to react.

At approximately 6:11 p.m., Sergeant Zaliponi was standing outside Building 16 as his Quick Response Team responded to the area. That’s when he heard three shots ring out. Sergeant Zaliponi turned his head back towards the AGR building and observed officers on the ground scrambling around.

Sergeant Zaliponi immediately scanned the area then heard a fourth gunshot and he looked at the top of the building and observed a gunman, in a prone position, at the apex of the roof.

The gunman then fired a fifth, sixth, and a seventh shot. Sergeant Zaliponi quickly acquired the gunman in his rifle’s red dot optic, just as the suspect fired his eighth shot. Sergeant Zaliponi then fired his one and only shot at the suspect, from 115 yards away, which was the ninth shot of the incident.

Immediately after Sergeant Zaliponi fired, he observed the gunman jerk to his right, then slowly slump over his rifle and slide down the backside of the roof. Sergeant Zaliponi stayed on target to fire a follow-up shot, although he could only observe a small portion of the suspect’s head. Just as Sergeant Zaliponi was about to fire a second shot, a U.S. Secret Service counter sniper fired a round that struck the suspect’s head. At this time, Sergeant Zaliponi gave the sniper team a thumbs up and stated, “Good hit. Good hit!”

The suspect never fired another round after Sergeant Zaliponi fired his shot, apparently incapacitating the suspect.

Sergeant Zaliponi, an NRA Benefactor Member and an NRA Certified Law Enforcement Patrol Rifle Instructor, exhibited exceptional bravery and courage while facing a dedicated assassin. His actions not only saved the life of President Trump but prevented the injury or death of others in the area. As such, it is with great honor and pride that the National Rifle Association names Sergeant Zaliponi as the 2025 NRA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.