The Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s Office recently held its annual awards banquet and Christmas dinner.
“We are so blessed to have so many supporters from all over the county that help sponsor our banquet and dinner to recognize the great work being done by our deputies, investigators, detention officers and employees,” Sheriff Larry Lane said. “I am blessed and honored to work with such a great group of people. We have a great sheriff ’s office family. I want to thank all of them for everything they do for this department and for the citizens of this county, all the nights, weekends, holidays worked, all the tragedies and horrible things they have to see and deal with. Their sacrifices do not go unnoticed.”
Lane has held the banquet and dinner annually since taking office in 2017.
More than 200 people attended the event.
This year’s award winners are: Deputy of the Year: Brian Stone Investigator of the Year: Galen Irvin Reserve Deputy of the Year: Steve Grizzle School Resource Deputy of Year: Dennis Thomas Employee of the Year: Kay Smith Sheriff ’s Star Award: Undersheriff Charles House Meritorious Service Award: Mike Staszyzen Life Saver Award: Deputy Daniel Whitus All but one of the awards are voted on by the deputies and employees of the sheriff ’s office, so being selected is truly an honor for these men and women.
“They have been chosen by their peers and co-workers as the most valuable person for their particular position,” Lane noted.
Lane introduced the Sheriff ’s Star Award a few years ago, and he personally chooses a deputy, investigator or employee “that best represents our department in a positive and professional manner.” Lane acknowledged that in law enforcement, compliments, thank you’s and “atta boys” from the public are infrequent. Usually the only calls or letters Lane receives are when a citizen wants to complain about a deputy or employee. But occasionally, there are a few who call the sheriff when they have had positive interactions with one of the deputies.
Lane said his office received more than 33,000 calls at the dispatch center in 2024. Deputies took 1,488 reports, booked more than 1,870 people into jail, served 1,043 civil papers and executed 116 search warrants.
“Most people don’t realize just how busy our deputies are,” Lane said. “We have 14 patrol deputies, and they average driving between 4,000 and 5,000 miles per month apiece.”
Lane also recognized the support his office has received from County Commissioners Beau Burlison, Jim Rogers and Ray Watts.
“I am also very blessed to have a great group of county commissioners who understand the importance of hiring and maintaining quality employees, especially in the detention center,” Lane said. “Our commissioners have always agreed with giv-ing more funding to our jail, so that we can raise the officers’ pay to a respectable level. When I took office seven years ago, we had jailers making $1,600 a month and patrol deputies making $2,500 a month. Since then, the commissioners have steadily increased my budget so that I could raise their pay to almost double what it used to be.”
In addition to private and individual donors, sponsors who helped make this year’s banquet possible were Akins Grocery & BBQ, Armory Outfitters, Armstrong Bank, Cato Creek Cattle Co., City Tele Coin, DIGI Systems, Firstar Bank, Forever Memories Funeral Home, Hog Creek Towing, Local Bank, Manning Pest Control, Merrill Bonding, Northeast Health Systems, O’Neal Real Estate, Rocky’s Pawn & Gun, Rosa Scott and Bobby Long, Scoufous Law Office, Sloan Farms, Sullivan & Sullivan Law Offices, Tractor Supply, Victory Pawn & Gun, and Zoom Bail Bonds.
