Cherokee County Sheriff Honors 14 Deputies and Detectives for Courage and Lifesaving Service

Sheriff Frank Reynolds recognized 14 members of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for outstanding service at a recent Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meeting, honoring employees whose work spans acts of physical courage, lifesaving interventions, and sustained contributions to the agency.

Sergeant Jack Fulenwider, Deputy Joshua Belden, and Detective Terrence Stallings each received the Sheriff's Commendation Medal, awarded for exceptional performance or meritorious conduct. Deputy Justin Botts and Joseph Popadics were presented with the Meritorious Service Medal.

Six members of the agency received Life Saving Awards, reflecting documented incidents in which their actions preserved human life: Deputy Kyle Nowiak, Deputy Andres Gavina, Corporal Claudio Artigas, Deputy John Wicker, Deputy William Shaw, and Sergeant Daniel Hayes.

Lt. Colonel William Smith received the Legion of Merit Award, the agency's top honor, recognizing distinguished service over a career or significant period of duty.

Two deputies were also recognized with Special Proclamations from the Georgia General Assembly. Deputy Nicholas Glass and Deputy Anthony Pacifico each received proclamations from both the Georgia House of Representatives and State Senator Jason Dickerson, a distinction that extends their recognition beyond the county to the state level.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office serves all of Cherokee County, including Woodstock, Canton, Ball Ground, and the county's unincorporated communities. The agency handles law enforcement, detention operations, and a range of community outreach programs, with personnel routinely responding to calls across one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia.

Holding the ceremony at a Board of Commissioners meeting, rather than an internal gathering, was a deliberate choice, one that put these recognitions in front of elected officials and the public rather than limiting them to colleagues and command staff. For the families of those honored, it offered a moment of public acknowledgment. For residents, it was a window into work that rarely makes headlines: the daily calls, split-second decisions, and quiet professionalism that keep Cherokee County's communities safe.