WCSO Posse Receives Presidential Volunteer Service Award
On Tuesday, November 19th, Major Joe Preston had the pleasure of presenting one of the highest awards given to a volunteer program – the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Posse started in 2010 with ten members and has now grown to twenty-four. The full history of the Walton County Posse dates back to 1865. The Posse Unit helps augment activities from within the Sheriff’s Office and gives citizens an opportunity to get involved with their community.
In 2003, President George W. Bush worked with Congress to initiate the “Presidential Volunteer Service Award.” The award was for both individuals and groups who dedicated their time for the betterment of their community. The WCSO Posse was nominated for the award and received a gold medal for reaching over 4000 volunteer hours in 2013. The WCSO Posse is the first “sheriff’s group” presented the distinction in the State of Florida. The award is presented to groups in the following category: Health, Youth, Parks and Emergency. The WCSO Posse received the award in the “Emergency” category.
Sheriff Adkinson stated, “The Posse Unit is a tremendous asset to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and I greatly appreciate their efforts in getting involved. This award is a testament to their hard work.”
Presidential Letter from President Obama to Volunteer Service Award