The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office held their edition of the “Oscar Awards” to recognize and honor many of their employees. The KCSO awards ceremony was Feb. 26 at Christian Life Center.

Deputy Scott Dickson, Correction Officer David Janssen and Support Services Specialist Teresa Schmidt were honored as employees of the year within their departments.

Dickson was honored as Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year for 2012.

The 11-year patrol division veteran joined the KCSO in August  2001, after serving two years with the University of Washington Police Department. Originally from upstate New York, Dickson earned a bachelor’s degree in education and training from Southern Illinois University. He is a Navy veteran and served more than eight years in the submarine service as a weapons systems fire control technician.

After three years as a patrol deputy, Dickson was selected for some intensive training for a collateral duty assignment as this agency’s explosive ordnance technician. He holds certification as an FBI Bomb Technician and also is a member of the Washington State Patrol Interagency Bomb Squad.

In 2007, Dickson was selected and qualified as a tactical operator with the sheriff’s SWAT team.

In addition to his patrol duties, Scott has held past collateral responsibilities as an instructor with the defensive tactics training cadre and he also has served as a range safety officer.

“Scott Dickson was directly responsible for establishing our team’s capability to apply explosive breeching procedures,” stated Sgt. Jim Porter, team commander. “Scott provided the team with unique training opportunities so that we could develop and employ a device such as this. Not only did he train us up — but he wrote the policy and procedures for our operations manual.”

Janssen was selected as 2012 Corrections Officer of the Year.

The 1986 South Kitsap High School graduate, who was born in Portland, joined the sheriff’s corrections division in March 2004 after working in the Sitka Police Department in Alaska.

He obtained certifications and performed full corrections officer duties for close to nine years with the KCSO and is a lead booking officer.

During the past two years, Janssen voluntarily rotated in booking to perform release from custody duties and was selected as a release officer, due to his attention to detail and his focus on booking and release procedures that have changed recently.

Janssen also holds a specialty position within the division as a court officer.

He was noted has having a “solid reputation for his ability to perform well at every assignment” within the jail.  Peers also stated most notable is “his ability to establish a fair and consistent demeanor with inmates in order to complete tasks or movements without disrupting other personnel in his assigned work areas.”

Schmidt was named 2012 Support Services Specialist of the Year. It was her second time (2007) being recognized for the honor by her peers and co-workers, with final approval by Sheriff Steve Boyer.

She is a native of Jupiter, Fla., but also lived much of her life in Colorado, graduating from Nederland High School in 1992.

Schmidt is working at the KCSO’s Community Resource Office inside Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. In addition to her current duties, she also holds qualifications as a field training officer and is certified in the state as a reserve police officer.

Her previous employment included positions of increasing responsibility, including management duties, in the retail trades.

Since she joined the KCSO eight years ago, Schmidt has worked in various positions within the department in records filing section, dispatch and reception, public disclosure dissemination and Kingston Office support specialist.

“Teresa leads by example, always ready to assume new duties and learn more about the many facets of this agency,” wrote her peers. “Noted for being dedicated to the goals of the sheriff’s office, Teresa has earned the respect of co-workers and supervisors through her dedication to teamwork.”

Divisional Commendations went to Detective Aaron Baker (Investigations and Support Services), Deputy Darren Andersson (Patrol Services), Officer Jerry Randall (Corrections) and Roy Schultz (Civilian Volunteer).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Perez, Bremerton Police Sgt. Billy Renfro, Bremerton Police Officer Dale Roessel, Sgt. Russ Clithero, along with Deputies Brittany Gray, Mark Gundrum, Alan Langguth and Paul Woodrum were presented the Sherrif’s Award for Professional Excellence.

Undersheriff Dennis Bonneville administered the oath of office to Corrections Officer Richard Campbell; Support Services Specialists Rebecca Dennison, Edna Quint and Rosalva Rinks; Citizens on Patrol Yolanda Adams-Smith; Explorer Cadets Austin Anderson, Mitchell Bartholomew, Harrison Berdan, Cameron Cassani, Arianna Christen, Brian Dalton, Maria Rubio Deluna, Cameron Marlow, Aaron Richards and Ian Schechert.

Presentation of promotional plaques were given to Colleen Smith, promoted to lead support specialist in the Civil Unit, and Scott Billingsley, promoted to sergeant as a first-level shift supervisor in the Corrections Division.

Deputy Sonya Matthews presented the 2012 Explorer Cadet of the Year Award to Grayson Krause.

Several Cadet Explorers received the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, for their volunteer service with the KCSO. They were: (Gold Level – 250+ hours) Joshua Buonvino, Steen Howell, Grayson Krause, Stephen Russell, Kassie Flores, Mariah Kelly, Beau Ripley and William Summers; (Bronze Level – 100-174 hours) Cameron Cassani, Aaron Richards and Ian Schechert.

Employees presented 15-Year Service Award were Deputies Chris Andrews, Eric Janson, Gary Westerfield and John Loftus; Sgt. Lori Cole and Detective Tim Keeler.

Ten-Year Service Award went to Deputies Rick Cowell, Jeff Schaefer and Ray Tuitasi and Officer David Ferguson.Officers Tracy Gibson, John Sackman and Merile Warmoth received the Five-Year Service Awards.

A formal retirement ceremony was held for Diane Watson, who retired as a lead support specialist in the Civil Unit and Ajax from the K-9 Unit.Chief of Patrol Cary Simpson served as emcee for the event.