Sheriff’s Office hosts End of Year Review, Christmas Dinner
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Deputy Shane Payton is awarded Deputy of the Year. Photo submitted
Sheriff Michael Howell, right, recognizes Ronald Williams as Reserve Deputy of the Year. Photo submitted
The Reserve Unit receives certificates of appreciation from Sheriff Michael Howell. Photo submitted
Chaplain Matthew Reams speaks during the Sheriff’s Office annual event. Photo submitted
Many employees, county representatives, guests, and family members enjoy the event and time to fellowship with each other. Photo submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The Coosa County Sheriff’s Office hosted its annual End of Year Review and Christmas Dinner for staff and guests Sunday, December 8.
The event was deemed quite successful and was well attended, with the Sheriff’s Office enjoying fellowship with employees, reserve deputies, county officials, the Jail Ministry Team, county fire chiefs, volunteers, guests, and families.
In addition to enjoying a Christmas dinner and celebration with others, the event serves as an opportunity to look back over the year’s accomplishments and plan for the year ahead.
The Sheriff’s Office took the opportunity to discuss statistics and accomplishments for 2024, presented yearly awards and discussed training topics regarding how to make 2025 an even better year.
Employees recognized with annual awards were Quiwana Epps being honored with the Employee of the Year award, Deputy Shane Payton being awarded the Deputy of the Year award and Reserve Deputy Ronald Williams being awarded the Reserve Deputy of the Year award.
Additionally, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, team were also honored. Deputy Trenton Davenport and Deputy James Dawson were pinned with their SWAT Trident during the ceremony.
Also SWAT members Investigator Troy Middlebrooks and Deputy Rusty Mascari received their Senior Swat Operator badges for five years of SWAT service.
Other awards were also given out to honored individuals in recognition of their involvement with the Sheriff’s Office, as well.
The Coosa County Jail Ministry Team, Chaplain Matthew Reams and Megan Jones were all presented with appreciation awards for their service and dedication to the Sheriff’s Office.
Paige Adams and Wendell Weathers were awarded certificates of appreciation for their assistance with the End of the Year Review this year, as well as in years past.
Additionally, all reserve deputies were honored with appreciation certificates for their willingness to serve the residents of Coosa County.
Another highlight of the event was the review of 2024, with Sheriff Michael Howell sharing numerous accomplishments the Sheriff’s Office made through the year.
Regarding cases, those accomplishments included closing many high-profile cases, solving a Kellyton burglary and arson case, solving numerous church burglaries and also obtaining a guilty plea regarding the church burglaries, having the first trial in at least five years with Shane Carden being found guilty, and recovering more than $300,000 worth of stolen property for the year.
Additionally, Howell said they solved the murder of David Tyrell Benson by arresting Tremaine Grandison, who confessed to the murder, as well as by indicting two more suspects for Benson’s murder, Jasmyne McGhee and Reginald Cooper.
Other accomplishments that Howell highlighted for the year included hosting the second annual Hatchet Creek float, establishing inmate tablets, the Talladega race, assisting with the primary run-off election, finishing the mile marker placements along Hatchet Creek, enrolling in LeadsOnline, fully staffing the county jail, having advanced training for personnel, the EMS tag fee being passed, hosting a successful “Shop with the Sheriff” last year, hosting a family fun day, purchasing three new fleet vehicles, completing staff evaluations, hiring a full-time courthouse security officer (Sgt. Butch Buttram), promoting a new jail administrator, promoting a new office administrator, completing a Community Traffic Safety Program grant and receiving acceptance for CTSP, beginning the remodel of the sally port office space and storage, assisting with Farm Day in Weogufka and the Weogufka Bluegrass Festival, having yearly qualifications with firearms, receiving approval for the expansion of the Sheriff’s Office lobby, participating in numerous events around the county, applying for many grants, enrolling in Tango Tango, having a successful start to the school year, installing fencing around the wash bay, adding new office space, having a $10,000 repair on a generator (E-911), and passing the budget for the year, with the county absorbing some insurance increase and a 3% wage increase being passed for the Sheriff’s Office employees.
In looking back over the year and recalling the accomplishments of 2024, Howell also looked ahead to 2025 and looks forward to making it an even better year with more accomplishments ahead.
