CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 60 law enforcement officers from the local, state, and federal levels were honored during the 2023 Law Enforcement Awards held at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston.
United States Attorney Will Thompson recognized many individuals and organizations in the Southern District of West Virginia at the ceremony Wednesday.
“These are the men and women who keep our communities safe. They represent the ideals of law enforcement,” Thompson said. “Through these awards, we particularly seek to honor collaborative efforts, in the way of joint investigations or partnerships formed to spearhead criminal justice initiatives.”
The awards are are presented in conjunction with National Police Week, which pays special recognition to those in law enforcement who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
A moment of silence was also held for Nicholas County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Baker, who was fatally shot while he and other law enforcement officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the Birch River area on June 3, 2022. Baker’s name is now engraved into the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial.
Law enforcement officers and organizations were honored in the following categories: Project Safe Childhood, White Collar Crime, Outstanding Drug Trafficking Cases, Project Safe Neighborhoods, Drug and Violent Crime Task Force of the Year, and Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.