Sheriff Jim Hammond.HonoreesDeputy Sheriff of the Year: Deputy Nathan FountainInvestigator of the Year: Detective Robin LangfordSchool Resource Officer of the Year: Officer Pam DavisCorrections Officer of the Year: Officer Michael McGowanCourt Officer of the Year: Officer Clarence WilhoitSupervisor of the Year: Cpl. Stephen ShortCivilian Manager of the Year: Carole MillerCivilian Employee of the Year: Heather WintersSpecial Recognition: Paul Hutchings
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond said Thursday evening that a little recognition for the men and women in blue is good.
"A pat on the back goes a long way sometimes," he said. The occasion was the sheriff's office's sixth annual awards ceremony.
Recognition and honors were handed out to employees for exemplary performance and also to employees who have been with the department for five years and longer. The longest-serving officer now on staff, Charles O. Lowry Jr., has been with the department 35 years. That's a long and fairly unusual amount of time for an officer, Hammond said.
"If you stay 30 to 35 years, you either like your job or you're in a supervisor position and you're a little harder to let go," he said. "As sheriff, it makes me proud to know we have the stayability of 15, 20, 30, 35 years."
Hammond said honorees are nominated by their peers, who work with them day in and day out.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.