Tuesday, Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack recognized and celebrated the 2016 Employee of the Year Awards for the sheriff’s department.

“This is just a small way to say thank you for doing the amazing jobs you do in our county each and every day,” Mack said. “You’re helping to improve and maintain the great quality of life we have here, and know that we are all incredibly grateful for it.”

Staff Sergeant Zettie Anderson was named Corrections Service Employee of the Year and also won the title of EE of the Year for the Corrections Department.

Derek Boone was named Civil Affairs Service Employee of the Year, while Rob Lindell was awarded Investigator of the Year.

Daniel Middleton was named Drug Task Force Officer of the Year, and Michael Walker was named Uniforms Services Deputy of the Year.

Tony Nolfe took home the trophy for the Top Gun Individual Award for receiving the highest marks in the county’s firearm training test. Mack said Nolfe had long been a contender in the competition, but this year marked the first time he had won the prize.

Mack awarded two Supporting the Star awards this year to county residents who had gone above and beyond to help the department.

Abby Taylor was recognized for hosting two fish fries for not only the sheriff’s department but all local law enforcement officials.

Andrea Ward, widow of former Deputy Scott Ward, won a Supporting the Star Award for her continued donations and support of the department’s fitness rooms, named the Ward Room after her late husband.

Andrea also helped award the Scott Ward Fit for Duty Award to Deputy Craig Stoffle, who had logged in the most time last year in the Ward Room.

Sergeant Troy Bookout and Squad 3 were recognized as the department’s Squad of the Year.

EE of the Year for Support went to Michael Brown, while the EE of the Year for Enforcement went to Deputy Tyrone Thompson.

Commissioner Tucker Dorsey, who was present for the ceremony, said he was glad to see the department recognize the hard work of its employees.

“These are the people who are out there every day putting their lives on the line to keep all of us safe,” Dorsey said. “We should certainly thank them every day, but it’s an honor to be here to see this and know that we have a fantastic team of people in our sheriff’s department here in Baldwin County.”