2020 NSA Award Nominations
Award Applications Due 12/13/2019
Every year, the National Sheriffs' Association presents a variety of awards to sheriffs, deputies, and sheriff's offices around the country for their contributions to law enforcement and their commitment to their communities. Please see the below descriptions for each award.
Click here to downoad the nominations packet. For more information contact Ross Mirmelstein, Director, Conferences & Exhibits at 703.838.5321.
Ferris E. Lucas Award for Sheriff of the Year
Sponsored by Turnkey Corrections
NSA established the Ferris E. Lucas award in 1995 to recognize a sheriff for contributions made to improve the Office of Sheriff on the local, state, and national level. As well as involvement in the community above and beyond the responsibilities required. The award is given in memory of Ferris E. Lucas, NSA Past President (1944-46) and executive director (1964-82), who completed 50 years of distinguished service and leadership in law enforcement.
- 2019 Recipient: Sheriff Robert Gualtieri, Pinellas County, Florida
Charles "Bud" Meeks Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year
Sponsored by Motorola Solutions
The Charles "Bud" Meeks Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year was established to recognize deputy sheriffs who have demonstrated conspicuous bravery in the performance of their duties. The award is given in memory and honor of Charles "Bud" Meeks, who served as executive director of the National Sheriffs' Association from 1989 to 1997 and in 2000. There are now two awards given in this category: one for valor and one for merit.
- 2019 Recipients:
- Merit: Senior Deputy First Class Richard Dean, Harford County, MD, and Detective Cheryl Patty, Dane County, WI
- Valor: Deputy Robert K. Kunze III (Posthumous), Sedgwick County, KS
Law Enforcement Explorer Post Advisor of the Year
NSA established the Law Enforcement Explorer Post Advisor Award in 1988 to recognize a post advisor for outstanding contributions to a law enforcement explorer post sponsored by a sheriff's office. Candidates are judged on their recruiting efforts, size of post and tenure of explorers, written program plans, explorer training, and post activities.
- 2019 Recipient: Officer Jennifer E Robinson, Jacksonville County, FL
Chaplain of the Year Award
This award recognizes a chaplain who has made outstanding contributions to law enforcement and his/her agency or who had demonstrated conspicuous excellence in the performance of his/her duties.
- 2019 Recipient: Chaplain Jay Birky, Porter County, IN
Corrections/Jail Innovation of the Year Award
This award recognizes a Correctional professional in any position who has created an innovative process, program or procedure that has contributed to the improvement of the Corrections/Jail environment in security, safety, custody, or any other significant improvement in jail operations.
- 2019 Recipient: Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Albany County, NY
Court Security Agency/Professional of the Year Award
This award recognizes a Court Security professional in any position who has created an innovative process, program or procedure that has contributed to the improvement of the court environment in security, safety, custody, or any other significant improvement in court security operations.
- 2019 Recipient:
Reserve Deputy of the Year Award
This award was established to recognize a volunteer reserve or auxiliary deputy who has made significant contributions to law enforcement in his/her agency or to the law enforcement community.
- 2019 Recipient: Captain Terry Watkins, Okaloosa County, FL
Sheriff/Private Security Partnership Award
Sponsored by Security Industry Alarm Association and Central Station Alarm Association
The award will recognize the partnership between a Sheriff’s Office and a private sector partner.
- 2019 Recipient:
J. Stannard Baker Award for Highway Safety
Sponsored by the US Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University, OnStar, and NSA, the J. Stannard Baker Award for Highway Safety is presented annually to a deputy sheriff or officer who has shown unusual initiative directly related to highway safety.
- 2018 Recipient: Sheriff Brad Cole, Christian County, MO
Nominations are due by March 1, 2020. Contact Mike Sabol, Traffic Safety Project Manager at 571.312.9780.
Crime Victim Services Award
NSA recognizes that victims of crime have unique needs and that appropriate assistance to victims should be provided by law enforcement as early as possible in the response process. In an effort to focus more national and local attention on law enforcement services provided to victims of crime, NSA annually recognizes a Sheriff's Office that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in support of victims with the NSA Crime Victim Services Award. Established in 2005 with funding support from the Office for Victims of Crime, the award has been generously sponsored by Appriss, Inc., since 2008. The deadline for receipt of nominations by NSA is December 13, 2019. For further information, contact Jessica Vanderpool at 703-838-5303.
- 2019 Recipient: San Francisco Sheriff's Department
Triple Crown Award
The Triple Crown Award is given to Sheriff's Offices who achieve simultaneous accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation (CAC) of the American Correctional Association, The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Less than 70 sheriff's offices have been awarded the Triple Crown
At the 2019 Annual Education and Technology Expo, both the Lake County Sheriff's Office (IL) and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office (NC) were awarded the Triple Crown Award.
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