Lt. Billy Purcell, standing in for ABAC Police Chief Brian Golden, said Officer Kim Scarborough was deserving of the award. Scarborough has been with the department for 15 years and was “partly trained” by Purcell through ABAC’s Police Academy. He said that Scarborough was a shift supervisor and runs the field training portion of the academy’s program. She is also state-certified, Purcell said, as a marijuana identification officer.

“We don’t have to go to the crime lab or get anyone else to test it because she is certified and can testify in such cases,” Purcell said. “It makes cases much easier for us.”

Capt. Jerry Lipsey, who directs the Tift County Jail, said that Officer Elaine Oliver was chosen by her peers for the award. Lipsey said the jail is one of the last places most law enforcement officers want to work because of the stress involved.

“Now and then one comes along that stands above the rest,” Lipsey said. “She has a great work ethic and presents herself well.”

Oliver has been with the department for five years, Lipsey said, and had to be talked into going home on leave while she was recently pregnant and came back early after giving birth.

“If I had a whole bunch more like her, it would make my job as easy as can be,” Lipsey said.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.