Sheriff Paxton honored

FORSYTH - Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton was honored Friday as one of 14 public safety professionals in Georgia to earn the coveted Governor's Public Safety Award (GPSA).

The award recipients were selected for their acts of heroism and outstanding contributions to their profession.

The 14 new recipients' names were also added to the GPSA monument platform at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, where they will be permanently showcased.

Sheriff Paxton was recognized for his outstanding contribution to his profession, and was nominated by his peers through the Georgia Sheriffs' Association.

Paxton, whose law enforcement career has spanned nearly 40 years, ook over the reigns of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in January 2001.

The award notes that under his leadership, the sheriff's office has become certified with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and received its accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement (CALEA). Paxton has also introduced programs such as S.T.O.P.P.E.D., where parents can register to learn if their child is stopped by a deputy, and S.A.L.T., which helps protect the assets of senior citizens. He serves on the Legislative Affairs Committee of the National Sheriffs' Association and on the Detention and Accreditation Committee of the National Sheriffs' Association, and is on the board of directors for the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes.