Crime Stoppers to announce Officer of the Year Jan. 15

Grimes County’s law enforcement 2021 Officer of the Year will be announced Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Grimes County Crime Stoppers’ annual awards dinner. This year’s nominees are Navasota Police Department Patrol Officer James Byrd, Grimes County Sheriff’s Office SRO Deputy Cody Crutchfield, Corporal Jason Dominguez with the Texas Department of Public Safety and Captain Ryan Rutledge, Grimes County Sheriff’s Office.

Nominations are submitted to Grimes County Crime Stoppers by the law enforcement agencies serving Grimes County and nominees must be peace officers certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Also, announced will be the winner of the Meritorious Service Award. This nominee may come from the ranks of certified jailers, dispatchers and other support staff.

This will be third year that Grimes County Crime Stoppers has foregone its silent auction fundraiser in favor of using gift cards, certificates and other items donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals as door prizes for law enforcement personnel. Most, if not all, go home that evening with a “thank you” from the community they serve.

This year’s meal will be catered by Mark McGinty’s Best Thing Smoking BBQ, and as always, is free to law enforcement personnel and their families and by donation to the general public.

Among the items featured in the Grimes County Crime Stoppers’ live auction fundraiser are an AR-15, a portable gun safe, a concealed carry handbag, artwork by 2020 Grimes County Artist of the Year Bob Goldstein, a round of golf at Pecan Lakes Golf Course and tickets to several high-profile Grimes County musical events.

Grimes County Crime Stoppers is proud to announce the event’s guest speaker will be Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst. Kolkhorst is no stranger to Grimes County, having served as the county’s District 13 state rep from 2001-2014. In March 2021, Kolkhorst was one of six state senators who visited the Texas border to see firsthand the challenges facing Texas law enforcement personnel.

The program begins at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1962 SH 90 in Anderson, with doors opening at 5:15 p.m.