Sumter County Dep. Chris Rafferty has been named Law Officer of the Year by American Legion Post 347.
Rafferty accepted his plaque earlier this week while surrounded by fellow officers and family members. Sheriff Bill Farmer also attended the ceremony and posed for photos with his deputy.
Sumter Sheriff’s Capt. Tony Prevatt said it’s a huge honor for his department to have a Rafferty as one of its deputies.
“Sheriff Farmer always tells every one of his deputies that they are an extension of his arm,” Prevatt said. “What he means is that he wants them to treat the citizens of Sumter County the way he would treat them, with respect and extreme professionalism. Dep. Rafferty is a dedicated law enforcement officer who always gives the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Sumter County 110 percent.”
Prevatt added that Rafferty is constantly striving to better his education and knowledge in the law enforcement profession.
“I personally feel that every decision Dep. Rafferty makes, he always makes certain it is for the better of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Sumter County,” he said.
Post 347 Commander Al Varrone, who oversees the largest American Legion Post in the world, said his organization was proud to honor Rafferty for his many contributions to the community he serves.
“Part of our program is to honor outstanding members of the community – people who have done something above and beyond,” he said. “We gave him a nice plaque and a check to take his wife out to dinner or whatever he wants to do with it.”