Laurens City Police Department Celebrates Excellence at the 2023 Annual Awards Banquet and Christmas Party
December 18, 2023
Saturday evening, the Laurens City Police Department gathered for a night of celebration, camaraderie, and recognition at the 2023 Annual Awards Banquet and Christmas Party.
Laurens Police Chief Keith Grounsell expressed his sentiments, stating, ” Last night was a very special evening, highlighting not just individual accomplishments but the collective teamwork and tireless efforts of our entire department in making Laurens a safer and better place for all.”
The festive event provided an opportunity to honor the exceptional achievements and unwavering dedication of the police force throughout the year. The annual awards, chosen through peer recognition, spotlighted the hard work and commitment of the department’s outstanding individuals.
The following individuals were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions:
- Educational Achievement Award: Ofc. Megan Davis
- Distinguished Service Award: Det. Sgt. Billy Sellers and Ofc. Dania Manasra
- Meritorious Conduct Award: Sgt. Ryan Willard
- Supervisor of the Year: Lt. Brandon Davis
- Officer of the Year: Cpl. Kendric Waterman
- Detective of the Year: Det. Sgt. Billy Sellers
- SRO of the Year: SRO Jimmy Sharpton
- Rookie of the Year: Ofc. Heather Hall
- Shift of the Year: Delta Squad (Uniform Patrol)
- FTO of the Year: Sgt. Joshua Coffman
- Civilian Employee of the Year: Exec. Asst. to the Chief of Police Margaret Ruse
- Roger Rice Sr. Community Service Award: Captain Heath Copeland
- Ernie Byrd Sr. Award: Captain Heath Copeland
- Civic Achievement Award: Ofc. Cole Alloy and Det. Anquavious Smith
- Gold Shield Guardian Award: Det. Anquavious Smith
- “Making A Difference” Award: Captain Dillon Sherfield
- Chief’s Award: Det. Adam Moore
In addition to these prestigious awards, Letters of Commendation were presented to individuals who demonstrated exemplary dedication and service:
- Margaret Ruse
- Sgt. Ted Richardson
- SRO Jimmy Sharpton
- Ofc. Megan Davis
- Det. Anquavious Smith
- Det. Sgt. Billy Sellers
- Det. William Van Pelt
- Ofc. Tayquon Johnson
- Lt. Casey Jones
- Sgt Ryan Willard
- Sgt. Joshua Coffman
The event also recognized years of service, highlighting the commitment and loyalty of the department’s members:
- Longest serving employee in a law enforcement/first responder capacity (all agencies): Margaret Ruse with 37 years total service
- Longest continuous serving Laurens City PD employee: Heath Copeland with 24 total years
Expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the year, the Laurens City Police Department looks forward to another year of achieving milestones, fostering teamwork, and making the community safer together.
