Klay Luke, Austin Cannon, Tyler Barkhaus, George Davis, Steven Kornegay, Dylan Thompson and Christopher Good stand together as the Officers of the Year from their respective law enforcement departments. 

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Law enforcement can sometimes be a thankless and even hated job, but to the Moultrie Rotary Club, Colquitt County law enforcement officers deserve thanks and more.

The Rotary Club held its Seventh Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day ceremony on Tuesday. Rotarian Judy Payne said its purpose is in the name itself.

“So much of the focus is on the difficulties of the job and sometimes the conflict that they encounter in [it],” she said. “We try to support them and show our appreciation for the tough jobs they do.”

Payne assists with the program every year, a task she takes pride in. She has personal experience with law enforcement and in dealing with officers as CEO of Turning Point.

“I get to see them at their best and I get to see them in tough situations that other people aren’t aware of,” she said. “It’s just a way to put a positive spotlight on them.”

Former Moultrie Police Chief and Rotary Club President Frank Lang came up with the idea during his presidency and unveiled it in 2013 with Payne’s assistance.

Each county law enforcement department is reminded early in the year to nominate and select an officer. They are then awarded by a commanding officer during a luncheon at the Sunset Country Club. 

Seven years later and not much has changed.

“We’ve had additional participation from some of the smaller police departments like Berlin and Doerun, but it’s a standard program,” she said.  

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is the Rotary Club’s most attended event. This year, nine officers were named Officer of the Year for their respective departments.

They include Dylan Thomas, Moultrie Police Department; Sgt. Austin Cannon, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office; CSO III Tyler Barkhaus, Georgia Department of Community Supervision; George Davis, Colquitt County Prison; TFC Steven Kornegay, Georgia Department of Public Safety Troop G, Post 12; Cpl. Quinn Fogle, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Region V Law Enforcement Division; Christopher Good, Doerun Police Department; Cpl. Mitch Peavy, Berlin Police Department; and SA III Klay Luke, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Norman Park Police Department was invited as well, but no one could attend.

GBI Special Agent in Charge Jamy Steinberg nominated Luke and presented him with his award. He said the GBI bases its nomination on an agent’s annual activity and in 2019, Luke certainly did his part.

“Klay works a lot of cases over here — works a lot of crime scenes — so he was our choice this year,” Steinberg said. “Any recognition in today’s society is nice for any job, law enforcement included.”

Luke himself said he was happy to receive the award, but serving the community was more than enough of an award.

“It’s an honor to serve the citizens of Colquitt County,” Luke said, a sentiment resounded by all the honored officers.