Richland County Sheriff's Department Among 30 Finalists for Freedom Award

The Richland County Sheriff's Department is one of 30 finalists for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve, according to a release.

A review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selected the 30 finalists from a pool of 2,899 nominations submitted earlier this year by National Guard and Reserve Service members. 

The sheriff's department was nominated by an Army National Guard employee:

(The nominator) wrote that the sheriff’s office ensures deployed service members and their families are contacted every month by a regional leader and a Sheriff’s Chaplain, and deputies regularly visit families’ homes to provide assistance. The Sheriff’s Office found part-time work in the department for the nominator’s spouse when she was laid off during his deployment. They also held a promoted position open for the nominator until he returned from his deployment.

A national selection board of senior Department of Defense officials, business leaders and prior winners will select 15 Freedom Award recipients, which will be announced this summer. 

The winners will be honored at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on September 26. 

For a complete list of Freedom Award finalists, visit www.FreedomAward.mil and click under the Media Tab in the Press Releases section.