Richland Sheriff's Department Selected for Freedom Award

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is one of 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The award is the Department of Defense's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve employees, according to a relese 

The sheriff's department will be honored at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Sept 26.

Read the full release below.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, announced today that Richland County Sheriff’s Department of Columbia, S.C. is one of 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. TheFreedom Award is the DoD’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. These employers distinguished themselves among the 2,899 nominations received from Guardsmen and Reservists. The 2013 recipients will be honored at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2013.

"I commend and thank the 15 recipients of the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer SupportFreedom Award for providing exceptional support to our Citizen Warriors," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. "So many of our Nation’s employers are finding ways to contribute to our Nation’s security, but these employers stand out for their commitment to our Guardsmen and Reservists. They have the gratitude and thanks of the entire Department of Defense.”

Richland County Sheriff’s Department was nominated by a member of the Army Reserve. The nominator reported the Richland County Sheriff’s Department 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 Department found part-time work in the office 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.