Warrick County deputy receives Law Officer of the Year award

EVANSVILLE — The Warrick County Sheriff's Office announced that reserve deputy Dale Naylor was awarded the Indiana Law Officer of the Year Lewis Schmidt Award during a ceremony in Indianapolis on Saturday.

Naylor, who has worn many hats during his career − including teacher, coach, principal, firefighter and mentor − joined the Warrick County Sheriff's Office volunteer ranks in 2011.

In a public statement, the sheriff's office said his peers nominated him for the award through Boonville's American Legion Post.

"He then advanced to the state level, competing against 12 other law enforcement officers who had been chosen as the law officer of the year for their districts," the statement reads. "Deputy Naylor is a reserve deputy, meaning that he volunteers his time to serve the sheriff's office and the citizens of Warrick County. He is no stranger to service."

The statement highlighted Naylor's time with the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp., where he taught, was an administrator and racked up wins as a coach, and with the Knight Township Fire Department, in addition to the sheriff's office.

"Well done and well deserved, deputy Naylor!" the statement concludes.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com.