BELL COUNTY, TX — The Bell County Sheriff's Department is recognizing staff members who've gone "above and beyond" in their position.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Department holds an annual awards banquet to highlight the outstanding performance of their staff, and to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their approach to day to day work at the Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Eddy Lange made the decision to cancel this year’s banquet in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.
Below is a summary of the award’s received by staff for jobs well done throughout the year:
- 14 Police Commendations
- 6 Life Saving Awards
- 20 employees with over 5 years of service
- 7 employees with over 10 years of service
- 5 employees with over 15 years of service
- 3 employees with over 20 years of service
- 2 employees with over 25 years of service
- 4 employees with over 30 years of service
Sheriff Lange asks for recommendations from command staff each year to choose one Deputy and one Jailer who have demonstrated outstanding performance, above and beyond their peers, and each are awarded the Bell County Sheriff’s Award.
This year, the Bell County Sheriff’s Award for outstanding Deputy was awarded to Deputy Christina Penn, and for outstanding Jailer, the Sheriff’s award went to Correctional Officer Anthony Hinds.
Since their last banquet, the Bell County Sheriff's Department have had 10 members retire.
Sheriff Lange created the Bell County Sheriff’s Department Memorial Foundation when he took office.
One of the priorities of the Foundation is to reward Scholarships to higher education to Bell County First Responders and their families.
This year, The Bell County Memorial Foundation was able to award $11,500.00 to 18 scholarships recipients.
"We would also like to take this time to thank Bell County Commissioner Bill Schuman and Bell County Commissioner Russell Schneider for their continued support of both the Bell County Sheriff’s Department Memorial Foundation, and the education of our first responders and their families," said Lieutenant Bob Reinhard. "Each year, both Commissioner Schuman and Schneider donate to the scholarship initiative, and this year they continued their commitment, and we were able to award an $1,100.00 Bell County Commissioner Schuman Scholarship to one recipient and awarded a $1,000.00 Bell County Commissioner Schneider Scholarship to another recipient."
"I would again like to thank all our award recipients for their hard work, dedication and a job well done," said Lieutenant Reinhard. "We look forward to next year’s banquet and ask the citizens of Bell County to continue to show their support to all our staff for all their hard work that continually goes on throughout each day of the year. Great job to one and all!"
