Freestone County Sheriff’s Office recognized three of their own during their annual meeting on July 2, 2019. These are employees who have served citizens in a positive way while fulfilling their duties and obligations for our county.
Receiving the 2018 Deputy of the Year is Sgt. Preston Cordova (pictured at top) for his dedication and exceptional work in the first few months after being promoted to CID Investigator.
According to County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley, Sgt. Cordova has a long tenure of law enforcement in Freestone County and has been a steady, trustworthy officer since day one. “He is very deserving of this recognition and appreciation for his efforts,” said Sheriff Shipley.
Receiving the 2018 Employee of the Year Award is Sheriff’s Administrator, Mary McDonald.
Mrs. McDonald has been instrumental in the grant funding the Sheriff’s Office has received in the past two and a half years, according to Shipley.
“This is a very important aspect that I, as the Sheriff, have placed as a priority for our office and our county in order to stretch every tax dollar as far as we can and still be able to provide the safety and equipment to our employees working to protect our citizens,” said Sheriff Shipley. Donations and grant funding of approximately $183,000 has been received by the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in the last couple years.
A Certificate of Recognition was awarded to Dispatcher, Keitha Ashley, for the tremendous performance under the stress and pressure of a fatal house fire.
According to Sheriff Shipley, Dispatcher Ashley was able to acquire vital information for responding emergency agencies. “Unfortunately, that particular situation turned out to be in God’s hands, but Dispatcher Ashley remained calm and poised as she performed her duty as she was sworn to do,” said Shipley.
He continued, stating, “Our dispatchers in general handle every kind of negative, horrible call you can imagine. They hear things and get involved in situations that the normal public may never even see in a fictional movie. They are some of our bravest and most courageous for the job they do.”
Sheriff Shipley says he is proud of his entire office.
“We have had to deal with a lack of employees and manpower and issues of an aging jail facility, yet our employees unwavering dedication and loyalty have been able to sustain us to this point,” he said. “Freestone County, you have some great individuals working for you at the FCSO.”
