Philadelphia Police Captain Drew Techner Served as Army Casualty Officer
Major Drew Techner (center) assists the widow and mother of Army Sergeant Alex Jiminez during his funeral in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
From October 2006 to September 2011, Drew Techner served as the Department of the Army’s only full-time Casualty Officer. During that time, he was on military leave from the Philadelphia Police Department. While serving as a casualty officer, Techner was on-call 24 hours a day and 7 days a week assisting Army Families of Soldiers that died in a combat zone. This assignment took Captain Techner all over the country. President Barak Obama awarded Drew Techner the Meritorious Service Medal for his “leadership, compassion, and dedication” to Army Families as well as the highest honors to his fellow Soldiers who died in service to our Nation. Obama’s award noted that Techner provided a consistent, timely, and accurate flow of information and liaison support concerning family members and unit command representatives. The President’s award also noted that Techner demonstrated keen adaptability, flexibility and sincere devotion to grieving family members. “Major Techner’s professionalism reflects great credit upon him… and the United States Army.”
Major Drew Techner’s performance report from the time provides insight in his character, “Drew can be depended on to mobilize any resources necessary to assist the families of our fallen warriors. He has the maturity, judgment and poise to handle the most sensitive of situations which frequently happen. Drew recently diffused a situation at graveside which had the potential to become a physical confrontation. Drew has received numerous kudos from General Officers commending his deportment and assistance to families. He is looked at by the Casualty Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at HRC as the most effective Casualty Assistance Officer/Casualty Notification Officer in the Army. Drew has never dropped the ball in performing CAC responsibilities and can be depended on to get the job done correctly any time anywhere.”
Brigadier General Michael T. Harrison said this about Drew Techner, “performing duties as a CAO is critically important during this historically demanding period in our military and requires Soldiers and Officers with a special blend of competence, compassion, and empathy – you exhibited all of these qualities while performing your duties. I am proud of you beyond measure.”
Drew Techner returned to the Philadelphia Police Department in 2011 and quickly rose in rank from Police Sergeant to Police Captain. In 2019, Captain Techner retired from the Police Department for a full-time position in the U.S. Army honoring Veterans and their Families.