Media

Optimist Club to Honor Shelby County Deputy as “Officer of the Year”

Release Date: May 13, 2004

The Memphis & Shelby County Optimist “Respect for the Law Committee” made up of representatives of the 12 Optimist Clubs in Memphis and Shelby County, will be naming Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Detective Steven (Steve) Montgomery as “Officer of the Year” on Friday, May 14, 2004, at 8:30 a.m., at the Criminal Justice Center, in the Sheriff’s conference Room, 9 th Floor, at 201 Poplar Avenue.

The Optimist Club has, since the 1960s, given awards to deserving officers for their exemplary service to the community.

“We are grateful to the Optimist Club for taking time to honor Detective Montgomery. He is an excellent investigator and truly exemplifies the professional standards of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Jr.

Detective Montgomery has been with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for 26 years. He’s been with the General Investigation Bureau for the majority of that time. Detective Montgomery’s investigation techniques have led to the arrest of many people connected with narcotics and stolen property.

He was instrumental in creating the A.L.E.R.T. (Area Law Enforcement & Retailer Team) program. The initiative utilizes law officers from federal, state and local agencies who work with area retailer store managers to target shoplifters and other thieves. Detective Montgomery’s leadership recently led to the arrest of a man involved in the theft of almost 2000 DVDs, videos and electronic games stolen from local department stores.

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