Senior Detention Deputy Brittany Sawyer has been awarded Officer of the Year by the South Carolina Jail Administrators Association for her work at the Lexington County Detention Center.

According to the press release, Sawyer graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in January 2020 and was praised for all her hard work keeping contraband out of the jail.

“I’m so proud for Brittany as she is very deserving of this prestigious award,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the press release. “She performs her duties in the Lexington County Detention Center with a spirit of service and commitment. Her colleagues can always count on her.”

Koon also said that Sawyer’s work ensures the safety of other staff members and inmates, helping the community feel safer.

“Brittany routinely receives recognition for detecting and removing contraband as inmates are being processed into the jail,” Koon said. “This helps ensure the safety and security of inmates and staff within the facility, which makes our entire community safer.”