2023 NSA Award Nominations

AWARDS APPLICATION PACKET 

Applications for the 2023 Awards are due December 23, 2022, unless otherwise noted. 

For more information contact Ross Mirmelstein 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. 

• 2022 Recipient: Vanessa R. Crawford, City of Petersburg Sheriff's Office (VA)

Charles "Bud" Meeks Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year 

Sponsored by Motorola

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.

• 2022 Recipients:
  • Valor: Deputy William “Bill” Smith (Posthumous), Baldwin County, Alabama
  • Valor: Deputy Sydney Victoria Wentworth, Baldwin County, Alabama
  • Valor: Deputy Tristan Hayden, Marion County, Kentucky

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. 

• 2022 Recipients: Capt. Matthew Grainge and Lt. Daniel Zimmerman, Niagara County, New York

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. 

• 2022 Recipient: Reverend Jeffrey McIlwain, Cumberland County, Maine

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. 

• 2022 Recipient: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Jail Division, Texas

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. 

• 2022 Recipient: Lt. Diana Lemma, Seminole County, Florida

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.

• 2022 Recipient: Reserve Sgt. David Pienta, Wakulla County, Florida

Sheriff/Private Security Partnership Award

Sponsored by Security Industry Alarm Association and The Monitoring Association

The award will recognize the partnership between a Sheriff’s Office and a private sector partner.

Crime Victim Services Award

Sponsored by Appriss, Inc.

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 16, 2022. For further information, contact Jessica Vanderpool at 703-838-5303. 

• 2022 Recipient: Pennington County Sheriff's Office, South Dakota

Learn more >>

Triple Crown Award

Sponsored by Corizon Health

The Triple Crown Award is given to Sheriff's Offices who achieve simultaneous accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA), the Commission on Accreditation (CAC) of the American Correctional Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

Learn more >>

These three awards are given throughout the year. To nominate an individual contact Ross Mirmelstein, Director, Conferences & Exhibits at 800.424.7827 ext. 321. 

• Medal of Valor

The Medal of Valor is given for an act of outstanding personal bravery, intelligently performed, in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard of life.

Past Recipients

• Deputy Sheriff Justin Childs, Kitsap County, WA
• Sergeant Roland Guilliot & Deputy Bridget Rupe-Boudreaux, Lafourche Parish, LA
• Sergeant David Linfert, Richland County, SC
• Deputy Sheriff Kevin Ross, Allegany County, NY
• Deputy First Class Michael Shambaugh, Orange County, FL
• Deputy First Class John Siller & Deputy Sheriff Curtis Barnes, Orange County, FL

• Medal of Merit

The Medal of Merit is given for a contribution to your community, and to the Field of Law Enforcement & Criminal  Justice.

Past Recipients

• Deputy Sheriff Paul Faedo, Hillsborough County, FL
• Deputy Sheriff Christopher Franklin, Marion County, IN
• Deputy William Tibbs, Marion County, IN
• Sergeant Joseph VanSeeters
• Senior Deputy First Class Eric S. Walker, St. Mary's County, MD

• Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is given for having sustained personal injury, in the intelligent performance of duty, inflicted by an assailant with a dangerous and deadly weapon.

Past Recipients

• Sergeant Roland Guilliot & Deputy Bridget Rupe-Boudreaux, Lafourche Parish, LA
• Sergeant David Linfert, Richland County, SC
• Deputy First Class John Siller & Deputy Sheriff Curtis Barnes, Orange County, FL