Media

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

Release Date: April 26, 2005

The Memphis and 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 Deputy Anthony Townsend “Officer of the Year” on Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., at the Criminal Justice Center, in the Sheriff’s conference room, 9th 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 Deputy Townsend. He is an excellent officer and truly exemplifies the professional standards of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Jr.

Deputy Townsend is assigned to the Fugitive Division at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. His commander recently described him as, “skilled, knowledgeable, abides by a strong work ethic and is prepared to meet any new challenge.”

Officer Townsend is assigned to the day shift. He designed and implemented a research training curriculum for clerks to assist officers in capturing wanted persons.

Just recently, Deputy Townsend assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Office in part of a nation-wide fugitive round-up. Through his coordination efforts, the Sheriff’s Office apprehended many dangerous felons.

Of the 326 executed warrants for the western part of Tennessee in “Operation Falcon,” the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, through Deputy Townsend’s efforts, was able to clear more than half of those warrants.

Deputy Anthony Townsend, 36, has served with the Sheriff’s Office since April, 1997.

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