As 2013 comes to a close, the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department last week awarded two officers with awards, recognizing their hard work and dedication to the department and their jobs.
Sheriff Scott Cass (left) awards Deputy Sgt. Johnathan Smith with the ‘Deputy of the Year’ award. (Submitted photo)
Deputy Sergeant Johnathan Smith — a 5 1/2 year veteran of the sheriff’s office — has been named the Lamar County Sheriff’s ‘Deputy of the Year’ for 2013, while detention officer Jared Banks was named ‘Detention Officer of Year’.
Smith has obtained 1134 hours of TCLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education) training hours and is one of the department’s field training officers.
“Johnathan has been an integral part of the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department,” Sheriff Scott Cass said. “He is helpful to other officers, kind, experienced and easily approachable.”
He has also served as a school resource officer for Roxton ISD, where he taught criminal justice classes and became a mentor to the students he served, officials said.
As an advocate for children’s safety, Smith has worked many hours at the Kids Safe Saturday booths, art fair, gun safety programs at various schools and events, racial diversity block parties and providing prison tours for his criminal justice classes.
“Johnathan exhibits good character in his daily duties at the sheriff’s office and in his life as well,” the sheriff said. “He exhibits good people skills and sets the example in doing his job well — following orders and looking always to make the office and its officers better in all ways.”
Smith is a veteran of the armed forces, serving as a United States Marine. He is married to Leticia Smith and has three children. They attend Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Paris.
Detention officer Jared Banks (with plaque), pictured here with the sheriff, jail administrator Richard McLaughlin, and Robert Waldrum, was recognized as ‘Detention Officer of the Year’. (Submitted photo)
Lamar County Jail detention officer Jared Banks was commended as ‘Detention Officer of the Year’ for 2013.
“Jared is a very well rounded detention officer,” jail administrators said. “He has shown in his short time here at the Lamar County Jail to have a good work initiative, knowledge of the profession and the capacity to do it.”
One of Jared’s co-workers said that “he has a good work ethic”, which ultimately sets a good example.
As a licensed jailer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement with 297 hours of TCLEOSE training and education hours, Jared is dedicated to his profession and in doing the best job he can, officials said.
Banks is a veteran of the armed forces, where he served in the United States Air Force.
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra