Texas-side police officers and staff honored, promoted at ceremony

Elizabeth Tirone pins a badge on her husband, Nick Tirone, who was promoted to sergeant, at the Texarkana Texas Police Department's awards ceremony on Tuesday.
Elizabeth Tirone pins a badge on her husband, Nick Tirone, who was promoted to sergeant, at the Texarkana Texas Police Department's awards ceremony on Tuesday.

TEXARKANA, Texas - The Texarkana Texas Police Department honored 10 officers and staff members Monday during an awards ceremony at their Spring Lake Park-based Training Center.

The awards included a promotion to sergeant for officer Nick Tirone and a Civilian Award of Excellence for the first half of this year to administrative assistant Jennifer Jones, as well as recognition of Officer of the Quarter to Detective Tabitha Smith.

Besides receiving a sergeant's promotion, Tirone also received a life-saving award as did five other officers, including Jarrod Dean, James Ward, Cole Bredenberg, Daniel Linn and William Young.

Ward also received a certificate of appreciation as did Officers Thomas Shaddix and Karey Parker.

"A lot of things are going on in our country right now, but I have to say that I think we have one of the very best police departments in the country," Texas-side Mayor Bob Bruggeman said at the start of the ceremony.

Texas-side Police Chief Kevin Shutte said that although many police departments are being vilified today, wearing the police uniform is still what he looks forward to every day.

"Police are ambassadors of good will because they do their jobs every day, despite the danger they are subject to, and I will always defend their character."

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